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When Putin first invades Crimea in 2014, the west is divided. Starting with demonstrations in Kyiv, this is the story of the fraught phone calls and summits that followed.

This first episode tells the story of how, when Putin first attacked Ukraine in 2014, Europe鈥檚 leaders clashed over how to stop him. Amidst massive demonstrations demanding closer ties with the EU in Kyiv, Ukraine鈥檚 president flees to Russia. Putin exploits the power vacuum to make the most audacious move of his presidency to date: sending troops into Crimea.

We go behind the scenes for the critical summits and fraught phone calls as the west tries to find a way to push back. The crisis heightens as the fighting spreads to Donbas in Eastern Ukraine and Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 is shot down. Key players including David Cameron, Francois Hollande, Jose Manuel Barroso and Ukraine鈥檚 then-president Petro Poroshenko relive the EU's indecision and the all-night negotiations with the warring parties: a ceasefire is signed in Minsk, but Russian forces remain in Donbas.

Putin, meanwhile, appears more confident than ever. The lesson is clear, says French president Francois Hollande: 'When we do not punish at first, we are forced to punish more severely later.'

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59 minutes

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Last on

Wed 22 Feb 2023 02:50

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Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Norma Percy
Director Tim Stirzaker
Editor Toby Marter
Narrator Caroline Catz
Music Laetitia Pansanel-Garric
Production Manager Andrea Martinez
Production Manager David Prichard
Executive Producer Lucy Hetherington
Production Company Brook Lapping Productions

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