Ukraine and the Art of Strategy

By: Lawrence Freedman

Narrated by: Julian Elfer

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, subsequent war in Eastern Ukraine, and economic sanctions imposed by the West transformed European politics. The conflict did not escalate to the levels originally feared but nor was either side able to bring it to a definitive conclusion. Ukraine suffered a loss of territory but was not forced into changing its policies away from the Westward course adopted as a result of the EuroMaidan uprising of February 2014. President Putin was left supporting a separatist enclave as Russia's economy suffered significant damage.

Ukraine and the Art of Strategy provides an account of the origins and course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through the lens of strategy. Lawrence Freedman describes the development of President Putin's anxieties that former Soviet countries were being drawn toward the European Union, the effective pressure he put on President Yanokvych of Ukraine to turn away from the EU, and the resulting "EuroMaidan Revolution" which led to Yanukovych fleeing. He explores the reluctance of Putin to use Russian forces to do more that consolidate the insurgency in Eastern Ukraine, the failure of the Minsk peace process, and the limits of the international response. Putin's strategic-making is kept in view at all times, including his use of "information warfare" and attempts to influence the American election.

©2019 Oxford University Press (P)2022 Tantor

Superb.

I listened to the audiobook of this work, and it was so good and so informative that I would buy the physical copy of it were it not for the price. It isn’t horrendously expensive… But I’ll have to wait for a used copy.

If you have any interest in political strategy or the events leading up to the current Ukraine conflict, I recommend this book. It is deeply researched, incredibly informative, and clearly written.

My guess is that Freedman will write a second edition or a sequel to it once the conflict is over. I hope so.

Good Text on the 2014-22 Donbas Crimea War

The one thing I can say I really appreciate about this book is that it at least partially explains the connection between the Minsk II agreement and the situation on the ground.

Essential Outline of Ukraine By Master Strategist

Lawrence Freedman tends to be treated as the top strategist among political scientists, and his concise insights and clear thinking are on full display with this work.

It begins with a brief overview of key concepts in strategy, which may seem irrelevant to those who just want to learn about Ukraine. However, Freedman soon begins to lay out the most concise and essential history of Ukraine’s recent history I have yet to come across (and I have read the vast majority of major works on Ukraine). Freedman then applies his insights to an examination of Putin’s strategy, which looks surprisingly ill conceived.

If you want to acquire a foundational understanding of what’s been happening in Ukraine, or if you want an extraordinary analysis of Putin’s strategy, read this book right away. And if you are wondering whether you need to know more about Ukraine, read it as well.

Ukraine is pivotal to the future of freedom in the world.

~ Theo Horesh, author of The Holocausts We All Deny