Apr 5, 2022
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become the focus of many of us here in the Pacific Northwest, including elected leaders, policy experts, and even family members with ties to Ukraine or Russia. So in this episode I’m gathering some of their emotions and thoughts. We start with my conversation with Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. I asked him for his thoughts about our country’s direction on Ukraine.
I also attended and had the chance to ask some questions, at Oregon State University’s flash panel about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war and humanitarian crisis. Julie Hessler, Associate Professor of History at the University of Oregon, explained the history and motivations behind Putin’s view of Ukraine.
I asked “A debate is raging over closing the airspace, can you give us some clarity on the likelihood of the consequences of such a decision. Would it bring us closer to nuclear war, as some suggest?" Both O.S.U. history professors Jacob Hamblin and Christopher McKnight Nichols offered their thoughts.
Then the panelists were asked, what is keeping Putin’s cronies by his side? And could sanctions threaten their wealth?
An answer, from Dr. Phillip Kneiss, with the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University.