THE FOLLY OF REALISM How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine

Jacques Roy's narration sounds like a political science lecture as Alexander Vindman's analysis of Russia's invasion of Ukraine delves into the history behind the conflict. He covers the Chernobyl disaster, denuclearization efforts, Ukraine's role in the fall of the Soviet Union, and relations between Russia and the region dating back to the seventeenth century. It's packed with enough detail to bring listeners up to speed on the conflict today. There's brief excitement as Roy recounts Vindman's own observation mission at Ukraine's border in his diplomatic work for the U.S. Roy injects passion into Vindman's criticism of President Trump and calls for neo-idealism, a foreign policy based on U.S. values that would help Ukraine and other nations maintain self-rule in a world of aggressive powers. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]