#289 – Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine

About this episode

<p>Stephen Kotkin is a historian specializing in Stalin and Soviet history. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Lambda</b>: <a href="https://lambdalabs.com/lex">https://lambdalabs.com/lex</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Scale</b>: <a href="https://scale.com/lex">https://scale.com/lex</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Athletic Greens</b>: <a href="https://athleticgreens.com/lex">https://athleticgreens.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil<br /> &#8211; <b>ExpressVPN</b>: <a href="https://expressvpn.com/lexpod">https://expressvpn.com/lexpod</a> and use code LexPod to get 3 months free<br /> &#8211; <b>ROKA</b>: <a href="https://roka.com/">https://roka.com/</a> and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Stephen&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://history.princeton.edu/people/stephen-kotkin">https://history.princeton.edu/people/stephen-kotkin</a><br /> Stalin: 1878-1928 (Vol 1): <a href="https://amzn.to/3NvokpC">https://amzn.to/3NvokpC</a><br /> Stalin: 1929-1941 (Vol 2): <a href="https://amzn.to/3wIYqsT">https://amzn.to/3wIYqsT</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (10:17) &#8211; Putin and Stalin<br /> (21:07) &#8211; Putin vs the West<br /> (43:59) &#8211; Response to Oliver Stone<br /> (55:05) &#8211; Russian invasion of Ukraine<br /> (1:34:33) &#8211; Putin&#8217;s plan for the war<br /> (1:42:32) &#8211; Henry Kissinger<br /> (1:48:26) &#8211; Nuclear war<br /> (1:59:00) &#8211; Parallels to World War II<br /> (2:21:45) &#8211; China<br /> (2:29:54) &#8211; World War III<br /> (2:37:23) &#8211; Navalny<br /> (2:41:40) &#8211; Meaning of life</p>