We had a very timely and enlightening conversation with Matt Dimmick, a West Point graduate, career Army officer, and former Director of the National Security Council for Russia and Eastern Europe.  As Russian troops build along the Ukrainian border, we discuss lessons from Matt’s many years living in Russia and Eastern Europe, what the people of Russia are like, what are some of the misconceptions we might have about each other, and why this potential conflict that could seem so far away really matters to us here in the United States.  Matt has seen the world from some unique vantage points, and possesses a lot of wisdom about a people and culture from a region most of us never have the opportunity to experience.