The 12 Causes of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Check out my new book “What Caused the Russia-Ukraine War? (And How Will It End?)“ on Amazon (paid link): What caused the Russo-Ukrainian War? This video tackles that question in four phases. First, we examine the substantive reasons Russia invaded Ukraine. Second, I explain why those reasons are collectively a half-cause for war. Third, we switch gears to discuss bargaining problems. Finally, we will investigate what each of these explanations implies for how the war will end. 0:00 Outline 1:19 Separatist Regions 3:54 Crimean Land Bridge 5:02 Russian Irredentism 6:42 East-West Rivalry 7:49 Energy 9:36 Water 10:34 Nazis 12:20 Substantive Explanations Are Half-Causes 12:54 Visualizing War’s Expected Outcome (LINES ON MAPS) 14:21 Costs Incentivize Bargaining 15:09 Bargaining over Oil 17:00 Bargaining over Autonomy 17:34 Why War Is Puzzling 18:52 Preventive War and Shifting Power 21:00 Preemptive War and First Strike