Fred Kagan on Ukraine: Where Things Stand

An update on where things stand in the war. Click "Show more" to view all chapters. For more conversations, visit

Chapter 1 (00:15 - 37:16): Ukraine's Counteroffensive

Chapter 2 (37:16 - 1:10:38): Ukraine and the West

Where do things stand in Ukraine? What are the battlefield results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive so far, and what military and political outcomes might follow? Why should the US and allies continue to support Ukraine? To discuss these questions we are joined again by Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Kagan presents a granular account of recent fighting around eastern Ukraine and Crimea. He notes Ukraine’s counteroffensive has moved slowly, but explains why the war has not reached a stalemate: “The Russians have not shown the ability to stop the Ukrainians from making advances.” Nonetheless, the situation remains uncertain, and Kagan argues there is an urgent need for the US and allies to continue to support Ukraine. Kristol and Kagan also discuss the debate about the war in the United States, the effects of Russian propaganda, and consider what we’ve learned from the war about the resolve of the Ukrainians and the West.