Origins of the War with Patrick Travers

⚪ Why has Canada been one of Ukraine’s most consistent supporters? In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Patrick Travers, former advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, about Canada’s approach to Ukraine, the evolution of Western policy toward Russia, and the factors that led to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Drawing on his experience in government, Travers discusses Canada’s unique historical relationship with Ukraine, the lessons policymakers drew from Russia’s actions after 2014, and the strategic decisions that shaped Canada’s response to growing tensions between Russia and the West. Topics discussed include: • Canada’s historical ties to Ukraine • The evolution of Canada-Ukraine relations after 1991 • Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the Minsk agreements • Operation Unifier and military support for Ukraine • Western assessments of Russia’s intentions • Volodymyr Zelensky’s early presidency • The origins of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine • Policy lessons from the war Patrick Travers is a former advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and has worked extensively on foreign policy, national security, and Canada-Ukraine relations. Subscribe for more conversations on Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet states. #OriginsOfTheWar #Ukraine #Canada #Russia #CanadianForeignPolicy #EuropeanSecurity #KennanInstitute