When addressing current events – particularly conflict – it is crucial to take into account historical and contemporary perspectives. Members of staff in the University of Kent’s School of History came together to offer to reflect on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This panel, chaired by Dr Charlie Hall, offers observations on the origins of Ukraine, the view from the Middle East, military history and NATO.
On 24 February 2022, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on the pretext of a distorted idea of history. His misconception in referencing the medieval empire of Kyivan Rus’, put forward a united sense of identity and community in the region as a reason for violently bringing Ukraine within Russian territory. Historical perspectives based on expert analysis rather than ideological claims rectify these misrepresentations of Ukrainian history. In this seminar, experts from the School of History shed light on the premodern foundations of Ukraine; relations from the perspective of the Middle East; contextual understanding of NATO with lessons to be learnt from the Cold War; Putin’s background; and the playing out of warfare in modern day Europe.