Putin’s war or Russian war? Do Russians bear collective responsibility for the war? Café Eurasia

How do we interpret Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine? Is it Putin’s war, as some politicians say? Or is it a war of the Russian people? Do Russians support the war? If they don’t, why are they not protesting more? Do their vocal or tacit approval of the invasion, or even fearful silence make them collectively responsible for the aggression? What psychological defence mechanisms do some Russian citizens use to avoid responsibility for the war against Ukraine? Anton Shekhovtsov and Andreas Umland discuss these questions in the first episode of the Café Eurasia project. 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Two different approaches to interpreting the war against Ukraine 03:26 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Russian people “Don’t give up!“ 06:04 “Хотят ли русские войны?“ (“Do Russians want war?“) 08:51 Opinion polls on Russian support for the war - can we trust them? 15:39 Russian denial of the aggression 17:03 Russian doublethi