Birgit Zeisberger, editor of ORF Styria: How predictable was the war for you as a historian?
Barbara Stelzl-Marx: “Looking back from today’s perspective, I can say that there were many signs that pointed to war. At the same time, the outbreak of war exactly a year ago was a big surprise and shock for me and me
many more people.”
News
A Year in War Slavery
What are the signs when you look back now?
“The main signs were that from the beginning, when Putin came to power, he used wars as a means of establishing his power. It started with Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and then Ukraine in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and Donbass. And, of course, it was a pretty acute signal when the armed forces started to form and deploy in Ukraine.”
What does war mean for Europe now?
“This war marks a turning point, and the war has not only changed Ukraine and Russia, but also the West and ultimately the entire world. At the same time, however, war also means that the West is closing in, Europe, the EU and the US as well. And it also means that there is a very strong national consciousness in Ukraine that has definitely been strengthened by the war.”
Do you think Putin was wrong? Is there more cohesion than moderation, so to speak?
“Yes, I guess you could put it like that. In effect, what happened was the opposite of what Putin wanted or what we assume Putin’s goals are. And Putin was also wrong in that he didn’t expect such a vehement reaction from the West, also based on the reaction in 2014, when there were the first sanctions and protests, so I also believe that if the reaction in 2014 had been different, the war would have been different a year ago.
developed in a very different way”.
How would it have developed?
“I don’t think Putin would have invaded Ukraine so vehemently.”
APA/HERBERT NEUBAUER Barbara Stelzl-Marx
How long do you think this war will last?
“I believe that the war will probably be with us for many months, if not longer. The duration of the war depends on several factors, it depends on the Russian side’s war goals, but it also depends on perseverance
from the Ukrainian side and of course a lot of aid, also military aid from Europe and the US.”
The outcome is uncertain, but how can it work – after all, the EU, Russia and Ukraine are very close. How can living together work, so to speak? How do you rate it?
“I believe that the connection between Ukraine and the West will become closer and closer, between Ukraine and Russia, I am afraid there will be contacts or good coexistence for many years or decades.
really very affected – because of the experiences of the war, also because of the endless human suffering that is happening now. It will take generations before there are good forms of coexistence here again.”
ORF Styria editor Birgit Zeisberger conducted the interview with Barbara Stelzl-Marx.
A Year of War in Ukraine: Continuous Willingness to Help
Since Russian troops invaded Ukraine a year ago, the willingness to help has continued to grow. Many Styrians continue to try to make difficult fates a little more bearable – more on that in A Year of War in Ukraine: Great Continued Willingness to Help.