On Thursday afternoon Australian time Russian president Vladimir Putin announced his country would begin a “special military operation” in sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Almost immediately Russian troops began attacking various parts of the country. The move could become the most significant conflict in Europe since World War Two.

Today on Please Explain, international editor Peter Hartcher joins Nathanael Cooper to tell us how Russia and Ukraine reached this point and what the consequences are globally.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday afternoon Australian time Russian president Vladimir Putin announced his country would begin a “special military operation” in sovereign Ukrainian territory.


Almost immediately Russian troops began attacking various parts of the country. The move could become the most significant conflict in Europe since World War Two.


Today on Please Explain, international editor Peter Hartcher joins Nathanael Cooper to tell us how Russia and Ukraine reached this point and what the consequences are globally.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.