Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know

Written by Serhy Yekelchyk

Narrated by Joel Richards

Ukraine's sudden prominence in American politics has compounded an already-widespread misunderstanding of what is actually happening in the nation. In the American media, Ukraine has come to signify an inherently corrupt place, rather than a real country struggling in the face of great challenges. Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know addresses Ukraine's relations with the West, particularly the United States, from the perspective of Ukrainians. The book explains how independent Ukraine fell victim to crony capitalism, how its people rebelled twice in the last two decades in the name of democracy and against corruption, and why Russia reacted so aggressively to the strivings of Ukrainians. Additionally, it looks at what we know about alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, the factors behind the stunning electoral victory of the political novice Volodymyr Zelensky, and the ways in which the events leading to the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump have changed the Russia-Ukraine-US relationship.

This volume is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the forces that have shaped contemporary politics in this increasingly important part of Europe, as well as the international background of the impeachment proceedings in the US.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Nov 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705271025

Reviews for Ukraine

[Akiva Herzfeld · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful history of Ukraine up to the election of zelensky

[andrew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very informative not crazy about how it jumped around in the timeline made it a little confusing. Regardless though good narrator and I know more than I did about what’s going on.

[Ian Pegg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very clearly presented and helpful background to the present conflict taking the narrative up to Autumn 2020.

[marcello_324836275 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a well-timed briefing on Ukraine’s complicated history. Serhy Yechelchyk’s account breaks through the complexities.

[Marco · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book sounds like it was written by Victoria Nudelman, I mean Nuland. Ignores US support for neo-Nazis in the western part of Ukraine.

[d s silverberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A thorough authoritive investigative deconstruction of Ukraine history with a pro democracy/anti-"Russian paternalist" narrative bias. Expertly read. Indepth for the post 1850 to 2018. Essential listening for March 2022.