Russia’s Road to War with Ukraine

Invasion amidst the ashes of empires
By Samir Puri

Published by Biteback Publishing; Dist. by New South Books
RRP $39.99 in hardback | ISBN 9781785907708

Samir Puri comes to this topic with a unique view, having served as an international observer at five Ukrainian elections and, later, working in east Ukraine along both sides of the front line as part of an international ceasefire monitoring mission.

He begins by acknowledging Putin’s imperial ambitions, a man who is ‘tzar in all but name’ and keen to restore Russia’s imperial might.

He sets that idea against the misfortune for Ukraine of its geographic position and its failed hopes to be formally welcomed into the EU and NATO families, thus leaving Ukraine without formal allies and fatally exposed to Russian aggression.

Russia’s Road to War with Ukraine is a concise entry-level account of the path to the conflict that now dominates our headlines.

It offers an objective and lively narrative, peppered with eye-witness accounts, of the key moments of drama leading to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Of all the questions he raises in this book, surely the most relevant is to ask if it was ever possible to build a free, democratic and protected Ukraine that was not menaced by Russia, given their geographic location?

VERDICT: Thought-provoking and compelling, it raises other questions too that look to the changing global political landscape of a less US-dominated world order.

Further reading: https://insidestory.org.au/ashes-of-empires/