As the Crisis of the 2010s unfolded after the near collapse of the global financial system in 2008, relations between Russia and the West shifted from cautious cooperation to profound hostility. Yet even in the wake of the Russian military assault on Georgia in 2008, governments in the US and EU continued to hope for a reset of relations despite every escalatory step taken by Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime.
In this episode we have been joined by Ruth Deyermond, who as Senior Lecturer in Post-Soviet Security at King's College London can help us explore key factors that led to the breakdown of relations between Russia and the West. As a scholar with a background in pathbreaking research exploring Russia's security landscape, Ruth can provide extensive insights into the emergence of tensions between Moscow and the West a decade ago that culminated with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
The background music is by Through the City by Crowander, and the production for this podcast was by Daniel Mansfield.