News
News
Why is Russia waging this war against Ukraine - and what is at stake?

Why is Russia waging this war against Ukraine - and what is at stake?

Date: 11.12.2023 18.00 - 19.30

Radio SRF's long-time Russia correspondent David Nauer (Copyright SRF/Marion Nitsch)

For almost two years now, a brutal and bloody war has been raging in Ukraine, the likes of which have never been seen on our continent since the end of the Second World War almost 80 years ago. On February 24, 2022, the Russian army attacked Ukraine on several fronts. Ukrainian resistance was surprisingly strong, so the Russians did not achieve their wartime goal of destroying the Ukrainian government and the country's political order. With great support from the West, the Ukrainian people have so far managed to resist the onslaught of the Russian army and achieve some success with counteroffensives.

However, the conflict had already begun in 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and eastern Ukrainian territories by Russian troops and so-called separatists. Why Russia has launched this war of aggression and is waging it without regard for its own enormous losses is hardly comprehensible for most of us, since this war lacks any rational logic. We would like to talk about this with David Nauer, a proven expert on the region. We want to know how the Ukrainian nation can muster this strength to stand up to this powerful and ruthless opponent. We also want to know what is at stake for ourselves in this war.

David Nauer studied history, Russian literature and Russian linguistics at the University of Zurich. He then entered journalism, working for the "Zürcher Oberländer" and the "Anzeiger von Uster". Then he went to the news agency AP in Bern. From 2006 to 2009, he was a correspondent in Moscow for the "Tagesanzeiger," after which he reported from Berlin for the same newspaper for six years. Finally, he went back to Moscow in 2015 for Radio SRF/SRF News Digital. After his return in 2021, he is still foreign editor and Ukraine correspondent for the radio. Through his reporting, he has become known to many people in Switzerland.

Administrative notes

Cost (per person):
Talk for non-members: CHF 30.--; discount for students and trainees (only with valid ID): CHF 10.--; optional dinner (3 courses incl. wine): CHF 50.--
Talk for membership sponsor and friend: free of charge; optional dinner (3-course incl. wine): CHF 50.--
Registration deadline: December 8, 2023

Back