In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea, created a separatist movement in Donbas, and then attacked Ukraine with its regular army and special forces. In each case of Russian aggression, the US response was criticized as inadequate, insufficient or indecisive. The Moscow Factor is a unique study of four key policy decisions in Washington. Did the two Republican and two Democratic administrations of the USA take into account the status of Ukraine as a sovereign state when building relations with the Russian Federation — Fishel has an answer to a painful question. The position of the United States regarding Ukraine is considered in the broader context of international relations. Fishel's study fills a significant gap in contemporary scholarly and policy discourse by focusing on the complex tripartite—rather than simply bilateral—dynamics between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia from 1991 to 2016. For the first time, this book brings together documentary evidence and declassified materials on the policy debate. , retrospective articles authored by former politicians, official memoirs of former high-ranking officials and interviews with them and returnees.
