What I’m Reading
a guide to trustworthy & noteworthy resources about the war in Ukraine — Pt. 2
What I’m Reading returns with part two of my guide to trust- and noteworthy resources about the war in Ukraine. Part one offered one path to a narrower stream of news, a path that includes journalism that’s created with integrity and empathy. Moving on from those basics and visual stories of the early stages of the conflict, today I’ll show you stories that broaden the perspective on this conflict, add deeper context to the bigger picture situation, and show what matters the most; the human side of conflict.
The Other Perspective
Acknowledging as many potential sides to any story, trying to see and understand them, and including them in one’s thought processes is part of balanced journalism. Good journalism tries to understand the world and help its audience make sense of an increasingly complex world.
Before we enter a full-grown conversation about bias and objectivity in journalism, even in times of war, it’s important to look at the world through as many lenses as possible.
In today’s first story, Anton Troianovski and Ivan Nechepurenko from The New York Times help us see a part of this conflict from the perspective of ordinary Russians.
As Sanctions Batter Economy, Russians Face the Anxieties of a Costly War humanizes the economic consequences of war and shows us a facet of this conflict not seen too often.
Economic hardship feels almost negligible when people must flee, get injured, and die every day. But the fears of losing the benefits of a globalized world, the way of life one has embraced, remains a human tragedy in itself that’s brought about by conflict.
This short read offers thinking material. I.e., it provides context and the perspective of the other side. It enriches our understanding and knowledge of this war.
I like the use of graphics, a chart that plots the value of the Russian currency over time, demonstrating the economic problems. You’ll also hear from ordinary citizens to lawmakers and big business owners. People that oppose the war and those that don’t.
I’ll end with a line from the article that grabbed me most: “But the financial jolt offered tangible evidence of the West’s outrage, one that is now washing over Russia’s economy with unpredictable consequences.”
We usually hear snippets of what politicians say but often lack a bit of help when we try to place what we hear in a broader context and try to ensure we understand what’s being said.
That’s why I selected this second read, an attempt to decipher Russian President Vladimir Putin. Word by Word and Between the Lines: A Close Look at Putin’s Speech is a valuable read for anyone because understanding a major event like this, an event that has the potential to severely affect all of us, helps you meet reality as prepared as possible.
Max Fisher, for The New York Times, picked several key passages of Putin’s speech from February 21, 2022. And added his analysis of their meaning and implications. The article is part of Fischer’s column The Interpreter, which explains the events that move the world.
I highly recommend you spend some time with this piece.
Strategic Observations
The following four articles provide an even more robust understanding of this conflict. The first three are published by Radio Free Europe — an American organization headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. Their goal is to provide news in countries where a free press is either banned or not yet fully established. Radio Free Europe produces quality journalism you can trust (from more than 20 countries and in even more languages).
What’s Behind The Russia-Ukraine War Fears — And What Might Actually Happen? is an article from November 2021 that explains the origins of this conflict.
While the events of recent weeks have changed the situation, there’s still value in this article. You’ll learn about the timing and goals behind Putin’s decisions and the risks.
The second article tries to find explanations for the ties between Moscow and the separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Madness Or Method? Why Putin Recognized The Russia-Backed Separatists In Ukraine was published just after Putin’s speech on February 21, 2022. There’s helpful background information mentioned that makes it easier to understand the origins of this conflict. There’s also a good map that details the geographic situation in eastern Ukraine.
The next recommendation dates back to May 2021 and explains the role of NATO. One of the reasons why this war has broken out you might have heard before is that NATO pushed Putin too far by beginning to open the door to countries like Ukraine.
Did The West Promise Moscow That NATO Would Not Expand? Well, It’s Complicated by Mike Eckel examines the tensions between NATO, Russia, and the countries that have shown an interest in joining NATO. It’s a great trip through the last 30 years that visits various agreements and viewpoints on who allegedly promised what to whom. It’s a complicated matter. This guide offers at least a starting point to make sense of it for non-experts. Absolutely worth a read.
The final recommendation for this section brings us back to The New York Times. The West’s Plan to Isolate Putin: Undermine the Ruble connects with observations from the first link I mentioned at the beginning of today’s post.
Patricia Cohen and Jeanna Smialek explain the economic sanctions western countries have imposed on Russia in response to the start of the conflict. You’ll hear again how they impact life in Russia. But you’ll also learn why the West has such an influence on the Russian economy, why that influence can be a worry for Putin, the instruments Russia has to counteract, and where the limits of economic sanctions are.
It might be a bit of a drier topic, depending on your viewpoint, but it’s a valuable insight into the political processes at play.
What Matters Most: the human side & the fringes of conflict
Rounding out this second part of the guide, I’ll send two important stories your way. The first one documents the experiences of rural Ukrainians.
Once Sleepy and Picturesque, Ukrainian Villages Mobilize for War is an example of the outstanding daily coverage by The New York Times. Written by Maria Varenikova, with pictures by Brendan Hoffman, the story leaves the big headline events of the conflict behind. It moves to the countryside. We learn about ordinary villagers and their response to the knock of war on their door.
It’s a story about the human side of war, beautifully written and photographed. While all reporting on conflict has a natural heaviness, I find stories like these important documents of history and a testament to human strength and resilience. It’s stories like these that deserve our attention.
The second story moves further to the fringes of this war. The New York Times’s Benjamin Novak guides us from the events in Ukraine to the neighboring country of Hungary.
Ukraine War Forces Hungary’s Orban Into Political Contortions details the reaction of Hungary’s Prime Minister, Victor Orban, to the start of military activities. Suddenly, a Russia-friendly and Euroskeptic politician needs to walk a fine line to avoid alienating either side too much. The outlined reasons and details of Orban’s, make this an interesting and valuable read.
What interests me even more, is that this story connects the problems of a politician (who’s been very outspoken about hardline immigration measures in the past) with the experiences of Ukrainian refugees who’re now seeking a safe harbor in Hungary.
Their stories are also beautifully photographed by Laetitia Vancon. The Orban angle is interesting, but the connection to the refugees and their fates makes this story exceptional.
With that, I’ll leave you to your readings and hope you’ve found something of value today. The third and final part of this guide follows in two weeks and includes fact-checking resources, some powerful visual stories, and a list of journalists you can turn to, to stay informed on this conflict.
In the meantime, I’ll have another What I’m Reading special coming on Sunday, which introduces you to a book that’s inspirational and educational. And following that, I’ll finally re-launch that series on all things journalism, photography, and writing that I mentioned last week, and share a regular What I’m Reading post that brings you stories we shouldn’t forget despite the difficult times, from climate change and Syria to the future of journalism.
