How Stephen Kinzer’s new bestseller saying Washington started the Ukraine war is topical, readable – and wrong

Stephen Kinzer's book argues that influential Americans have manipulated U.S. foreign policy since the late 1940s, using Ukraine to settle personal vendettas, leading to Russia's invasion. He highlights early CIA operations in Ukraine, initiated by Frank Wisner, and critiques figures like Zbigniew Brzezinski, Madelaine Albright, and Victoria Nuland for their anti-Russian sentiments. Kinzer describes a powerful group within the U.S. government that has consistently pursued aggressive policies against Russia, viewing foreign policy as a tool for personal grievances.