S8 Ep817: The Soviet Era, Crimea's Transfer, and Putin's Formative Myths The 1950s and 60s represented a "Golden Period" for the Soviet state, during which Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea to Ukraine for economic convenience. This era deeply influenced a young

The Soviet Era, Crimea's Transfer, and Putin's Formative Myths

The 1950s and 60s represented a "Golden Period" for the Soviet state, during which Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea to Ukraine for economic convenience. This era deeply influenced a young Vladimir Putin, who viewed Ukraine not as a separate entity, but as a romanticized extension of Russia—a place for summer vacations and vital industrial output, such as missiles. Finkel notes that this perspective takes Russian dominance for granted, ignoring the history of forced "Russification" and the Holodomor. Meanwhile, American leaders like Bill Clinton and Herbert Hoover are criticized for historically misreading these Russian imperial intentions. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. (4/8)
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