Timothy Snyder on Why Ukraine Can Still Win the War
2Digest
This podcast episode features historian Timothy Snyder, who has visited Ukraine numerous times since the Russian invasion. He discusses the mood in Kyiv and beyond, highlighting the Ukrainians' determination to resist Russian occupation despite the hardships they face. Snyder argues that the war has revealed a crucial lesson about freedom: it's not just an absence of evil, but a presence of good, and it requires active engagement and commitment. Snyder then explores the implications of a potential Trump victory in the upcoming US election for the Ukraine war. He argues that Trump's worldview, which sees strength in authoritarianism, would lead to a submissive US foreign policy, potentially hindering Ukraine's efforts to win the war. He criticizes the Biden administration for its slow pace in supporting Ukraine, arguing that a more decisive approach could have led to a different outcome. Finally, Snyder delves into his understanding of freedom as a positive force, not just an absence of constraints. He argues that freedom requires active engagement and the ability to realize one's potential. He connects this concept to the need for social democratic policies that empower individuals and create a more just society.
Outlines
Ukraine's Resilience and the Implications for Freedom
Timothy Snyder discusses the mood in Kyiv and beyond, highlighting the Ukrainians' determination to resist Russian occupation despite the hardships they face. He argues that the war has revealed a crucial lesson about freedom: it's not just an absence of evil, but a presence of good, and it requires active engagement and commitment.
Trump's Potential Impact on the Ukraine War and the Need for a More Decisive US Approach
Snyder discusses the implications of a potential Trump victory in the upcoming US election for the Ukraine war. He argues that Trump's worldview, which sees strength in authoritarianism, would lead to a submissive US foreign policy, potentially hindering Ukraine's efforts to win the war. He criticizes the Biden administration for its slow pace in supporting Ukraine, arguing that a more decisive approach could have led to a different outcome.
Freedom as a Positive Force and the Role of American Power
Snyder delves into his understanding of freedom as a positive force, not just an absence of constraints. He argues that freedom requires active engagement and the ability to realize one's potential. He connects this concept to the need for social democratic policies that empower individuals and create a more just society.
Keywords
**Freedom**
The absence of constraints and the ability to realize one's potential, requiring active engagement and commitment.
**Ukraine War**
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the implications for global security.
**Authoritarianism**
A form of government characterized by strong central control, suppression of dissent, and limited individual freedoms.
**Social Democratic Policies**
Policies that aim to achieve social justice and economic equality through government intervention in the economy, such as social welfare programs, labor rights, and progressive taxation.
**US Foreign Policy**
The strategies and actions employed by the United States in its interactions with other countries, including military, economic, and diplomatic initiatives.
Q&A
What are the key lessons about freedom that Timothy Snyder draws from the Ukraine war?
Snyder argues that freedom is not just an absence of evil, but a presence of good, and it requires active engagement and commitment. He emphasizes that freedom is not something that is given, but something that must be fought for and nurtured.
How does Snyder critique the Biden administration's approach to supporting Ukraine?
Snyder criticizes the Biden administration for its slow pace in supporting Ukraine, arguing that a more decisive approach could have led to a different outcome. He believes that the administration's hesitancy has given Russia more time to regroup and has undermined Ukraine's efforts to win the war.
What is Snyder's view on the role of American power in defending freedom around the world?
Snyder believes that American power has an obligation to defend freedom around the world, but he emphasizes that this obligation should be exercised with a clear understanding of the complexities of freedom and the need for a positive approach that empowers individuals and promotes social justice.
Show Notes
Since the war in Ukraine began, the historian Timothy Snyder has made several trips to Ukraine, and it was there that he wrote parts of his newest book, “On Freedom.” The author of “Bloodlands” and “On Tyranny,” Snyder spoke in Ukrainian with soldiers, farmers, journalists, and politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky. He talks with David Remnick about the Ukrainian conviction that they can win the war, and the historical trends that support that conviction. But the thrust of Snyder’s new book is to apply what he learned from them to larger principles that apply to our own country. In areas taken back from Russian control, Ukrainians would tell Snyder they were “de-occupied,” rather than liberated; “freedom,” he writes, “is not just an absence of evil but a presence of good.”
“If you think that freedom is just negative,” Snyder told David Remnick, “if you think that freedom is just an absence of [evil] things, I think you then argue yourself into a position where given the absence, stuff is going to work out. … The market is going to deliver you freedom, or the founding fathers … something else is going to deliver you freedom. And that of course is wrong. It’s an essentially authoritarian conviction. Because if anyone’s going to deliver you freedom, it’s going to be you, in some way.”
Table of contents
United States
