The real and imagined history of Ukraine

Main Topic: The podcast episode discusses the history of Ukraine and its relationship with Russia, particularly focusing on Vladimir Putin's claim that Ukraine is not a real country.

Key Points:

1. Putin claims that Ukraine was created by Russia and is not a real country, but historian Timothy Snyder argues that Ukraine has a long history and was already a distinct nation before the Soviet Union was formed.
2. The Soviet Union's treatment of Ukraine was marked by periods of repression and violence, including the Holodomor famine in 1932-1933, which killed an estimated 3.9 million people.
3. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine began to build a new state and identity, but its relationship with Russia remained complex.
4. Putin's views on Ukraine are rooted in a 1970s perspective that sees Ukraine as a part of Russia and its people as Russian-speaking.
5. The Maidan protests in 2014 marked a turning point in Ukraine's history, with the country seeking closer ties with the European Union and Russia responding with aggression.
6. The concept of "Russian separatists" is complex, as it involves both genuine Ukrainian dissent and Russian-backed provocation.

Participants:

1. Noelle King, host of Today Explained