Journalist Leonid Ragozin joins us to talk about the irrationality of Putin's invasion of Ukraine and Zelensky's steadfast resistance which has led to the present stalemate situation that we now have. Ragozin states, "History will show whether Zelensky was right in this game of chicken to collide with Putin..." Ragozin calls Putin's gamble a suicidal move ("complete insanity"), not just for Putin's regime but for Russia itself. "I don't see how... they [can] win in the way they want to win." Boldly he says that no one has done more to harm Russia's interests since World War II than Putin himself who falsely calls himself the protector of Russophones in Ukraine -- "Putin is fighting his own people." See Ragozin's Al-Jazeera article here: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/2/24/is-putins-gamble-on-ukraine-rational

ABOUT THE GUEST
Leonid Ragozin was born in Moscow on October 28, 1972. From 1989 to 1994, he studied in the prestigious Moscow State University, majoring in geology and foreign languages. He worked as an English-to-Russian translator and a travel agent till 1998. From 1998 to 2006, he worked for BBC as a journalist in Moscow and London. Later, he was a reporter and later an editor with Russian Newsweek magazine till 2010. From 2010 to 2013, he worked as a producer for BBC’s English-language office in Moscow. After 2013, he worked with Lonely Planet. As a freelance journalist, he writes op-eds for many major outlets, including Al-Jazeera, Bloomberg, Guardian, Politico, The New Republic, Time, Washington Post, and other English-language media. Follow him on Twitter @leonidragozin.
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/2/24/is-putins-gamble-on-ukraine-rational
https://www.politico.eu/author/leonid-ragozin/

If you would like to make a donation to help the people of Ukraine, we highly recommend the Ukraine Relief Network, providing essential and immediate help to war refugees on the ground. Check out http://www.ukrainereliefnetwork.org/.

PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on March 12th, 2022 via Zoom.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to be a guest on the show, please email slavxradio@utexas.edu and we will be in touch!

CREEES STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies condemns the Russian Federation’s military invasion of Ukraine. We stand in support of the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and sovereignty in the face of the unjustified invasion by Russian military forces.

CREDITS
Assistant Producer/Host: Sergio Glajar
Assistant Producer/Host: Misha Simanovskyy (@MSimanovskyy)
Associate Producer: Lera Toropin (@earlportion)
Assistant Producer/Host: Zach Johnson
Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig (@cullanwithana)
Recording, Editing, and Sound Design: Michelle Daniel (@M_S_Daniel)

Music Producer: Charlie Harper (Connect: facebook.com/charlie.harper.1485 Instagram: @charlieharpermusic www.charlieharpermusic.com) (Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional background music by TAG, techtheist, Anna Centauri, Polkavant, Uncan)

Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (Connect: facebook.com/mdanielgeraci www.msdaniel.com)

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Special Guest: Leonid Ragozin.