Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Republics.

This article provides a summary of several recent books on various topics related to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The first book, "The Lost Peace" by Richard Sakwa, argues that the West failed to prevent a second Cold War and examines the ongoing proxy war between Russia and the West over Ukraine. "Russia and Ukraine" by Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel explores the historical developments in both countries since the collapse of the Soviet Union and suggests that the war between Russia and Ukraine was not inevitable. "The Kremlins Noose" by Amy Knight tells the story of Boris Berezovsky and his role in the rise of Vladimir Putin to the presidency in 2000. Lastly, "The Gulag: A Very Short Introduction" by Alan Barenberg and "After the Gulag: A History of Memory in Russia's Far North" by Tyler C. Kirk delve into the history and impact of the Soviet prison camps known as the gulag. [Extracted from the article]