Geographical storylines and the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Narrative power and narrative taboos, a (difficult) conversation

Abstract

How does the Russo-Ukrainian war end? On what territorial terms? Who – and where – has the right to decide on negotiations towards a settlement? These are all deeply geographical questions, and geographical storylines have been powerfully deployed in analyses of the conflict since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In this conversation forum, we bring together a provocative article by Gerard Toal identifying what he terms a ‘territorial taboo’ espoused by discursive communities in both the US and Europe: a set of geographical storylines that, Toal suggests, render impossible any negotiated end to the war. To respond to Toal’s argument, we have reached out to three expert commentators on the topic: international relations scholar Kseniya Oksamytna, historian Michael Kimmage, and political scientist Veronica Anghel.