The Russo-Ukrainian War: Follies of Empire Paperback – February 23, 2026

"Sakwa offers a transcendent explanation for how the war in Ukraine fits into a decimated relationship between Russia and what he calls the US-led political West…. Even those who believe that the war grew out of a dance that Russia and the West did together, but that Russia’s choice in February 2022 is indefensible, will find much in the book to ponder and much in Sakwa's hopes for the war’s outcome and future Russian-West relations to admire." ―Robert Legvold, Columbia University"In this deeply researched book, Richard Sakwa displays a balance rare in Anglophone writing on the subject of the Russo-Ukrainian war…. Sakwa's superb account should be read by all who want to understand the origins of this tragic, unnecessary conflict, and how it might be ended." ―Robert Skidelsky, University of Warwick"Sakwa's analysis advances the most articulated interpretation of the war through the lens of sovereign internationalism. A must-read for all those who want alternative explanations of the broader framework of the conflict, accompanied by detailed analysis of the course and consequences of the war." ―Marlene Laruelle, George Washington University The number of casualties in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war is rapidly approaching 1.5 million, with no resolution in sight … a staggering reality. Seeking to make what sense is possible of this catastrophic conflict, Richard Sakwa meticulously explores the origins, course, and consequences of the war in the sweeping context of global and domestic politics since 1945.Sakwa's balanced analysis centers on what he perceives as the five levels of the conflict: the dynamics of Ukrainian politics, the evolution of Russo-Ukrainian relations, the relationship between Russia and the West, broad changes in international politics, and the prospects for a viable and sustainable peace. In explaining―without endorsing―the logic behind actions on all sides, his goal is to contribute to a path toward that peace.CONTENTS: In the Crosshairs of History.Unbalancing Ukraine.From Crimea to Minsk.The Road to War.The Crisis Matures.War and Peace.Warfare Old and New.Proxy War.Ukraine at War.Russia at War.The War and the World.Painful Compromises.The Global Disorder.Appendixes. Read more