Anne Applebaum: Putin is one of the greatest war criminals of the 21st century

Putin is one of the greatest war criminals of the 21st century, and we need to talk about him in that context, said American-British historian, journalist, writer, and Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum during a meeting with the Ukrainian community, diplomats, scholars, and students at Northwestern University in Illinois.

The event was organized by the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, under the leadership of Marta Farion, UWC Vice President for North America and Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). “Anne Applebaum describes and analyzes our times with acute and intimate knowledge and documentation,” said Marta Farion during the opening of the meeting, emphasizing that Applebaum had warned about the danger of Russian disinformation and propaganda long before the major war.

“Putin has unleashed an unjustified war with genocidal intentions against his neighbors. And this immediately puts him in a new category. Because until now, he was considered a soft authoritarian politician. Now he has definitely become one of our time’s greatest villains, ” Applebaum emphasized during the meeting.

The discussion primarily centered on international security, particularly Russia’s war on Ukraine. Applebaum delved into the challenges and possibilities presented by worldwide political and economic shifts, examining them within the context of historical and contemporary politics. Additionally, the historian offered perspectives on the extensive impacts of today’s volatile global events.

The recording of the meeting can be viewed at the link provided.