Historian from Groningen obtained his doctorate on self-image of Ukraine: ‘Putin has underestimated the willingness of this people to fight’

Historians are better at looking back than forward. In this conflict, the crystal ball is even more difficult to read, says Ukraine expert Nicolaas Kraft van Ermel (University of Groningen), because of the enormous unpredictability of Russian President Vladimir Putin. ,,What expert of the region would have expected a war on such a large scale? I don’t,” the university lecturer admits.