THE FIFTH YEAR: UKRAINE AT WAR
Cathrin Kahlweit in conversation with Franziska Davies and Gerhard Mangott
THE FIFTH YEAR: UKRAINE AT WAR
Russia's war against Ukraine will enter its fifth year in February 2026 - and despite all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire, there is currently little hope of the Kremlin giving in. Vladimir Putin continues to insist that victory by military means is possible, as well as his maximum demands. These include a cession of the entire Donbass, a reduction in the size of the Ukrainian army and the installation of a Russia-friendly government in Kiev.
Despite all the preliminary reports of success from the „coalition of the willing“ and the vague involvement of the USA, it is therefore unclear how it will be possible to silence the weapons or even rebuild the country, parts of which have been destroyed. The historian of Eastern Europe and founder of the German-Ukrainian Society, Franziska Davies, researches the modern history of Ukraine and Russia and is therefore very familiar with both regions. The same applies to Gerhard Mangott, Professor of Political Science and expert in security research in the post-Soviet space at the University of Innsbruck. Davies and Mangott discuss with Eastern Europe expert Cathrin Kahlweit how Russia can be forced to give in and how Ukraine's existence can be saved.
Franziska Davies, German historian of Eastern Europe, specialising in the modern history of Ukraine, Poland and Russia, research associate at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History (ZZF) Potsdam, co-founder and co-president of the German-Ukrainian Society
Gerhard Mangott, Austrian political scientist and professor of political science specialising in international relations and security studies in the post-Soviet space at the University of Innsbruck. Main research interests: Domestic and foreign policy of Russia, foreign policy of the USA, great power relations, strategic arms control and nuclear proliferation
Cathrin Kahlweit, SZ correspondent, publicist and presenter for many years