the secession of the eastern part of the country. President Putin intended to resolve the "Ukraine conflict"-in truth not a "civil war" but a Russian war of attrition against Ukraine-on his terms within the "Minsk process." By creating an "autonomous" Donbas region within the Ukrainian state, he wanted to create a lever for Russian influence over the whole of Ukraine. The book's conclusions place the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the context of the dawning "Chinese century." The in-depth study draws from secondary literature, official publications, and a variety of current news in print and digital outlets. It is essential reading for everyone who wants to understand the current situation in Ukraine.