Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
As the NATO summit kicks off, Robert Wright and journalist Leonid Ragozin discuss signs that the Ukraine war could spill into a direct conflict between Russia and members of NATO. Plus: The logic behind Putin's brinkmanship, why some European leaders may not want the Ukraine war to end, how the 90s set the stage for today’s conflicts, and more.
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0:00 Teaser
0:50 Leonid’s journalistic work, past and present
1:52 Are Russia and NATO headed for war?
14:43 Decoding Putin’s recent signals
21:49 Do European leaders really want the Ukraine war to end?
23:02 Putin’s political psychology
37:31 Why the war matters more to Russia than to the West
40:10 Russia’s non-ethno nationalism
43:31 Heading to Overtime
Discussed in Overtime:
Is the war really at a stalemate?
The battle for the "Fortress Belt" in the Donbas.
Is Putin fighting for territory or something else?
Why each side sees the other as the threat.
Ukraine's de-Russification campaign.
How the 90s set the stage for today’s conflict(s).
.Did Putin really want Russia to join NATO?
Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Leonid Ragozin (Rest of World, West of Providence, Lonely Planet). Recorded July 06, 2026.
Twitter: twitter.com/NonzeroPods
As the NATO summit kicks off, Robert Wright and journalist Leonid Ragozin discuss signs that the Ukraine war could spill into a direct conflict between Russia and members of NATO. Plus: The logic behind Putin's brinkmanship, why some European leaders may not want the Ukraine war to end, how the 90s set the stage for today’s conflicts, and more.
Subscribe to The NonZero Newsletter at: nonzero.org/subscribe
Exclusive Overtime discussion: nonzero.org/p/are-russia-and-nato-headed-for-war
Join NonZero's Discord server: discord.gg/Zy4jAhTQMF
0:00 Teaser
0:50 Leonid’s journalistic work, past and present
1:52 Are Russia and NATO headed for war?
14:43 Decoding Putin’s recent signals
21:49 Do European leaders really want the Ukraine war to end?
23:02 Putin’s political psychology
37:31 Why the war matters more to Russia than to the West
40:10 Russia’s non-ethno nationalism
43:31 Heading to Overtime
Discussed in Overtime:
Is the war really at a stalemate?
The battle for the "Fortress Belt" in the Donbas.
Is Putin fighting for territory or something else?
Why each side sees the other as the threat.
Ukraine's de-Russification campaign.
How the 90s set the stage for today’s conflict(s).
.Did Putin really want Russia to join NATO?
Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Leonid Ragozin (Rest of World, West of Providence, Lonely Planet). Recorded July 06, 2026.
Twitter: twitter.com/NonzeroPods
