Why the U.S. Misjudged Ukraine - The Influence of Russian Imperial Narratives on U.S. Policy
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Yale Professor Timothy Snyder testifies before the U.S. Helsinki Commission at its hearing on Russia's Imperial Identity.
In this segment, Snyder explores the connection between Russian empire and the way the United States has thought about the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Snyder suggests that many Americans are aware of Russia's big history, big literature, and big past, such that many Americans imbibe the Russian imperial narrative according to which other peoples were secondary, irrelevant, troublemakers, nationalists to somehow be dismissed. He believes this helps account for the misjudgments that Americans made in general in February 2022 when we took for granted as a society and as a polity that Ukraine would break within a few days when Russia invaded.
Snyder suggests that Americans have seriously underestimated the potential of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the potential of Ukrainian society partly because they have taken in imperial assumptions themselves. He suggests that the Russians have been able to control the strategic discourse, setting up for us new rules in war, which have never existed before. Like, for example, that when you invade another country, the entire war should take place on the territory the country you've invaded.
He notes that no one has ever said that before because it's completely absurd, and yet somehow it's been accepted in the United States as normal that this war should be fought on Ukrainian territory. He says that another idea that the Russians have that we've accepted is that it's normal, for example, for ballistic missiles to rain down on Kyiv, but it's somehow not normal for ballistic missiles from Ukraine to go into Russia.
Snyder believes it has a great deal to do with imperial thinking, which we have accepted. He says that people think there's something precious, special about Russia, and somehow it's okay for Ukrainians to be victims because they always have been victims. He says we need to investigate that understructure of thinking, which he believes has guided U.S. policy in the wrong way.
Finally, he suggests that the Ukrainians are right when they tell us that the Russians are going to negotiate peace when they believe they are losing. He suggests that if anyone is serious about negotiation, that that person should be trying to get the Russians into a position where they think they might be losing. He says the Ukrainians get that, but they're having a really hard time making us understand that. He says that when they talk about a victory plan or a peace plan, what they mean is together, the West and Ukraine, do enough to get Russia to a point where it might negotiate sincerely.
Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. A scholar of history of Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the Holocaust, Snyder speaks five and reads ten European languages, has written 16 books, including six on Ukraine, and co-edited two. His work, published in forty languages, has inspired political demonstrations, sculpture, posters, punk rock, rap, film, theater, opera, and earned him six state orders and decorations from Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, four honorary doctorates, and numerous prizes and awards.
Snyder writes and speaks in the international press on Ukraine, American politics, strategies for averting authoritarianism, digital politics, health, and education, also appearing in documentaries, on network television, in major films, and as an expert witness to Congress. He is an ambassador to United 24 where he launched the Safe Skies fund for military defense of Ukraine. Snyder leads 90 scholars in the Ukrainian History Global Initiative, a charitable foundation for research on prehistory of Ukrainian lands, the spread of Indo-European languages, international relations, nation building, and imperialism.
Imagine Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and then Americans started complaining "Woah, you have you fight this war on American soil, not in the foreign territories conquered by Japan or on Japanese soil! We were invaded so we gotta fight it here! Let's not escalate!"
Now imagine that Japan has a nuclear triad and the US does not. Idiot.
Imagine America didn't have a Navy or industrial base necessary to wage war on Japan and your analogy would actually make sense.
@@marklampton2792
Yes. And there would be no nuclear triad.
But that's too complicated.
American education is lagging far behind.
@@reorioOrionright, russia has nukes, it can do whatever it wants. What's the next country you're willing to sacrifise?
@marklampton2792 well, there's no analogy, and it shows that something wrong with not letting Ukraine to strike back
This is what we Poles have been saying for years - You can truly negotiate with Russia only from a position of strength. If the Russians sit down to negotiate in any other setting, it is only because they know that these negotiations will end positively for them.
and what wrong did Putin towards Poland ? nothing, its Poland poking Russia in Ukraine...this is just a war of propaganda how Russia is bad, but true is its collective west provoking Russia, even this war happened because of west
This fact is the primary reason why a just peace must include making it impossible for Russia to ever do this sort of thing again in the future.
I think it's Poland who has shown themselves to be the biggest fools of this war.Their behaviour towards Russia and this war. Even here in Canada, Canadian Poles are speaking at such an embarrassing level like this....... firstly, Ukraine is not in a position of strength. There has been a 2.5 year physical war that has happened, and it has been a one-sided result thus far, and it will only get more one-sided in Russia's favour as this continues.
Putin tried to avoid this war at every possible turn. Open public letters addressed to biden, and of course, the Minsk Accords. Two of them. Multiple public speeches at summits addressed (dating back to 2007) to the USA, not to spread NATO all the way into Ukraine. Putin tried negotiations before this war ever happened. And it has been the Ukrainians who have been the aggressors of this war, for the war began in 2014.
The Russians have been waiting to sit down to negotiate but Ukraine and biden have refused to even speak to Putin.
And, there was a negotiated settlement in May 2022, there was a meeting in Turkey, there was a signed peace agreement, but Boris Johnson vetoed the agreement.... you know about this by now, correct?? Victoria Nuland even described vetoing the agreement in detail. The US NATO and collective west forced Ukraine to keep fighting, for some cryptic reason
I think it's Poland who has shown themselves to be the biggest fools of this war.Their behaviour towards Russia and this war. Even here in Canada, Canadian Poles are speaking at such an embarrassing level like this....... firstly, Ukraine is not in a position of strength. There has been a 2.5 year physical war that has happened, and it has been a one-sided result thus far, and it will only get more one-sided in Russia's favour as this continues.
Putin tried to avoid this war at every possible turn. Open public letters addressed to biden, and of course, the Minsk Accords. Two of them. Multiple public speeches at summits addressed (dating back to 2007) to the USA, not to spread NATO all the way into Ukraine. Putin tried negotiations before this war ever happened. And it has been the Ukrainians who have been the aggressors of this war, for the war began in 2014.
The Russians have been waiting to sit down to negotiate but Ukraine and biden have refused to even speak to Putin.
And, there was a negotiated settlement in May 2022, there was a meeting in Turkey, there was a signed peace agreement, but Boris Johnson vetoed the agreement.... you know about this by now, correct?? Victoria Nuland even described vetoing the agreement in detail. The US NATO and collective west forced Ukraine to keep fighting, for some cryptic reason
I think it's Poland who has shown themselves to be the biggest fools of this war.Their behaviour towards Russia and this war. Even here in Canada, Canadian Poles are speaking at such an embarrassing level like this.......
One of the best summaries of the West's confusing and anemic response to the War in Ukraine. Excellent.
It's not "confusing and anemic". It's strictly and knowingly pro-Moscow. All those who try to slow down everything in terms of helping Ukraine or in terms of punishing Russia are the people of Moscow.
Yes, that's how many of them we have here.
Yes
So try it please😂😂😂😂😂
you bros need to read more Sun Tsu and then you might understand what is going on
Why did he fail to mention that russians dont have a problem with war being fought on their soil...as long as its not a proxy war for nato...which it currently is. Why should russia accept ukraine fighting with nato help when russia didnt do anything to nato?
I observed, on many visits to Russia, the West over estimated Russia's capabilities, and mixing USSR legacy as Russia today.
The USSR legacy isn't that great either! It collapsed, remember?
@@Evan490BC and... ? it's not today Russia :)
@@guilima2757 The USSR was a superpower, today's Russia is a Chinese subsidiary. You import drones from Iran FFS!
@@guilima2757 The point is that Russia today is much weaker than when it was the USSR. It does not hold Ukraine, for example, who have proven utterly determined in protecting their country, as the poorest country in Europe in a fight against the largest country on planet Earth.
Yes, and as I know in USA was used word russians not soviet. In USSR it was used word soviets astronauts and in USA it was translated as russian astronauts.
I hope that this video gets millions of views
He is wrong. We West has done everything it can and then some to try and get Ukraine a dirty victory and the only they they have succeeded in is getting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians killed. If NATO wants to defeat Russia it will have to use its own forces and not hide behind a proxy and even then we will just get a nuclear exchange. The whole premise of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia hinges on the Ukrainians being able to militarily drive the Russians out with a decisive victory and then join NATO. From there NATO would arm Ukraine like Israel #2 and start covert destabilization campaigns into Russia to try and "decolonize" the Russian Federation and shatter into potential puppet states. Russia called the bluff and mobilized and now Ukraine will find out what Germany found out during WW2 about the resolve of the Russian people. Every day Ukraine does not capitulate is another day Ukraine becomes smaller until one day there will be no Ukraine left.
It will be suppressed
Like it, comment on it, share it and save it to your Favorites playlist to get it to more people.
@@Puleczech Yes! 💯 I did all of it.
I don't agree, so why share it.
Thank you Professor Timothy Snyder. Far more logic than any Politician can come up with.
To the contrary, individuals AND their personally perceived, identified, or operating ingroups, function quite logically, FOR THEIR OWN expressed, implied, or covert advancement, success, dominance.
This can supersede ANY other loyalties, and in the case of, for example, the antinational, anti-inclusive, and pro-theocracy, elements comprising the US republican party.
Consider that limited, ad hoc coalition well, to undersand the logic of spdcific activities.
Many of these agreed-upon tactics do run counter to the US long-term best interests, to the functions of actual democratic structure, and enter into severe error due tothe differing goals of extraordinarily coalitional funding of specific oligarchs, whose goals remain personal, liquid as to coalitional participation and existence.
Many of the implicit agreements exist SOLELY as utilitarian tools for establishing social dominance by the separate individuals and parties to that coalition.
The logic IS CLEAR and VISIBLE.
@@briseboyIs that what we call BS?
empty platitudes and a false assertions
All he saud was the West won't attack Moscow cause it's afraid. The Tali were supplied with Russian equipment from Pakistan, but the US did bomb Islamabad.
@@briseboyExactly what I heard the other day on the bus.
"Part of being an empire is controlling the discourse." So true. The Soviet Union was a story. Russia is a story. It's time to step back and reframe.
What exactly you’re trying to say? Hail to genocide of Russians or what?
🤨
US doesnt control the discourse? what are you even talking about???
...by your logic what country isnt a story??? wtf are you talking about?
@@KolyaUrtz sure, each nation state is legitimized based on the story of "the nation". similarly, entities such as the Soviet Union or the European Union legitimizations are based on other "narratives" as the kids call ideologies nowadays.
Thank you, Prof. Snyder.
Also... Russia has for a long time used foreign missiles to hit Ukrainian territory (from Iran and NK). Why then can't Ukraina use foreign missiles to hit Russian territory?
well, there is a pact agreement between Hitler and Stalin! Sorry, Putin and Biden or otherwise it's hard to tell who is worse
Why can't they? Nobody knows why, but it's never questioned. Until today. Hopefully this changes everything!
Yeah, it seems like a very good logic until WW starts.
Where's your proof?!
Because Russia have satelites, Ukraine does not.
Ukraine uses US satelites. If US satelite navigate US missiles, where is Ukraine in that?
It is US attacking Russia.
Edicate yourself how does modern systems works.
So clearly articulated! Thank you, professor!
Excellent!
Wow. Just wow. I’ve never heard a more succinct assessment of this war. Slava 🇺🇦
This so true
Thank you for these videos
The USA did not understand that Ukraine was a high-tech corner of the USSR. Much of the rocket and aviation development was done in Ukraine. So they are still capable of building missiles and turbo engines. In the USSR development and production were mostly split. The development happened in the center towns like Moskow, St. Peterburg, and Kijev, whereas the production was done somewhere away from the borders.
Are you kidding? 😂😂😂😂. In all American high-tech corporations, there are former Russian Rocket Scientists but none of Ukrainians. At least I did not meet anyone for 33 years.
@@mishaknopkin2199 Because the US needed some time to distinguish between Russians and Ukrainians.
As in the Soviet system engineering bureaus and factories were split, locating the developers was difficult. You are suffering from Putinitis and cannot distinguish between Russians and Ukrainians. The developers were located in the large towns, whereas the factories often worked in the east far away from the borders.
The westernmost oblasts belonged to the Habsburg Empire until 1918, and to the re-established Poland until 1939. The population was then called Ruthenians as well as their language. In contrast to that the eastern part of Ukraine was called 'Small Russia' in the 19th century.
But that is far away from the USA.
Yeah, I think you're right. But I think that's a problem too. Ukraine now can produce rocket, drone and many other new weapons. Potentially now the Ukrainians are a competitor in the production of weapons for the US and Europe. I'm not sure but in future if Ukraine survive at this war, they become a great weapons producers. I think Western arms manufacturers would prefer Ukraine to disappear
@@kelcritube That's the discrepancy. Western weapons industry would appreciate it if both disappeared. Then only China would remain as an alternative.
The war of attrition goes in this direction: The one who suffers a bit less will win the war unless the USA enters the battlefield as a decision-maker like in both World Wars.
@@mishaknopkin2199 perhaps the answer to that question is that you are not omniscient and should work on your object permanence - which most babies master in their first year of life. Just because you personally did not see something does not mean it does not exist.
Thank you Prof. Snyder! At least one person truly understands the history of Ukraine and its consequences.
Was there any history in here. I didn't hear any back story...
...how is it the best? He literally said bunch of nonsense. He doesnt even understand that russia has no problem with ukraine fighting on russian soil...problem is with what help and weapons. Why should russia accept nato helping ukraine on russian soil when russia didnt attack or do anything to nato?
@@KolyaUrtzyou’re the one, who is talking nonsense.
Russia has no any rights to accept or decline anything related to Ukraine. They cannot decide for Ukrainians, cannot control and cannot interfere.
But somehow they decide that they can and invaded a peaceful neighbor country.
@@MaksymS-t5s Unfortunately for Ukraine, their government have used Ukraine's right to decide for themselves, and they chose "we want NATO", Russia will not accept that, and Ukraine knew this right from the beginning, anyway they took on the risk of a Russian attach.
Does Russia have the right to decide what other countries should do? No is the answer. Does America have the right to decide what other countries should do? No is the answer. Does China have the right to decide what other countries should do? No is the answer.
It's just so that countries that think they have power also often think that there are certain things in other countries they want to influence, be it missiles in Cuba, or NATO in Ukraine, it's not fair that they exercise this influence, but there is not much we other little ones can do about that, when the big bullies want to bullie, they do so, no matter if it is fair/legal/acceptable or not.
@@K2teknik. NATO for Ukraine was and still is the best option to defend the country
Wow! Clear and precise!
Thank you Prof. Snyder !
Timothy Snyder has always been very insightful and eye-opening. His book Bloodlands is a must read for anyone interested in Eastern Europe and why the Ukrainias are fighting so bloody hard against Russia. They have truly, utterly and permanently broken up with Russia for very good reasons. Russia has no friends, it has only victims and partners in crime.
Timothy Snyder's books give a twisted version of history, mostly serving the political goals of U.S. neocons, and they have little to do with the truth. I bought one of his books and honestly wish I could get my money back. His videos are full of historical mistakes, and that’s probably why he disables comments. His students aren't really encouraged to criticize his lectures either. If you want to learn the real history of Russia and Ukraine, you should read the old Kievan Rus and Galician chronicles-I have a copy in my library. I’ve read them and highly recommend them to anyone. A simple fact, like the thousands of former Ukrainians now fighting on the Russian side, which Snyder completely ignores in his videos, says a lot.
Hy that analog, the US has no friends, just enemies and parties to exploit. Soooo how is the exploit of Ukraine going? Is it worth the 13 trillions???
@@P00009 +15 рублей вам
"Russia has no friends, it has only victims and partners in crime." Replacing Russia with "US" sums up the US brilliantly at this time...
His book is propaganda.
Where to watch all of Snyder's portion of the session? I would like to watch more, but I would like to see everything Tim says.
It's right here on YT
@@RuslanKvitnevyi Then add the link
@@HisDudeness59 ruclips.net/user/livezKNxUx9_U9I?si=UxQ1s2e71orzt9I2
Search US Helsinki Commission Russia’s Imperial Identity
ruclips.net/user/livezKNxUx9_U9I?si=3L-_eAFezVgQeaiA
Well said!
I agree with this assessment.
😬
Because you dont understand anything
Great points! This is good to see people trying to explain the difference in how we view Russia to what it is REALLY like!
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 love from the UK 🇬🇧
Why not explain how the Russian empire is different from the US empire? Also explained how Ukraine will survive as a US colony? Remember, the US got Cuba from the Spanish after the Spanish US War. How did that one end???
Questions answered: 1. The USA stopped invading its neighbors a long time ago. Russia didn't. 2. Ukraine isn't a US colony, never was. Ukraine is fighting not to be a Russian vassal state-thus for its own independence. Also as a historical note, I think Spain handed Cuba to the USA as it was about to lose against a rebellion there.
@@pplr1 US stopped invading its neighbours long time ago, cause they moved to invading countries all over the globe. Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria - all recent examples.
On the second point, Ukraine does not own any of its land anymore - the US corporations do. Plus Ukraine is soo in depths to the US( no free help there) that their children and great great grand children will not be able to repay the debt to the US. This is the modern day colonial rule. Not through occupation but by financial slavery.
A brilliant man with deep understanding of things
Yes if you are uneducated and uninformed
@@AcikaB congrats! You just earned 25 russian rubles for the comment. Keep on going so you'll got for a bottle of vodka by the end of the day
He's a moron with zero understanding of the subject in particular and geopolitics in general
@@TheAlopolo Thats a very intellectual comment. I appreciate the opinions of educated and informed people. Thank you.
Unfortunately they are unable to give me anything due to the hundreds sanctions imposed on Russian banks. liquor stores and other institutions.
@@AcikaB Well, have a pretend vodka. Here's your potato.
There are problem with taking a Ukrainian historical discourse, given how much of it is built on mythology and falsehoods. It saddens me deeply to see a professor of history to propagate false narratives. His logic rest on very tenuous assumptions that stem from his Russophobia, rather than unbiased judgement .
Ichkeria, Tatarstan, Bashkortastan, Udmurtia, Ingria, Tuva, Buriatia, Yakutia, and so on must be free. The West had never recognized The Baltic states as a part of russia, so these countries also must not be recognized as a part of russia and must be recongnized as occupied territory by moscow-terrorist state.
Greetings from Kazan, Tatarstan.
Why
First they have to leave Ukraine!!!!!!!
😂
Sure. All you have to do is convince Russian government that this is the right thing to do
The imperial practices of russia forcibly internally displacing, supplanting with muscovite language ( notably only about 60% similar to Ukrainian, Polish, Belarusian, which 3 show past similarity up to 90% and beyond with each other, pointing to being separate from the muscovian russian) and biased education, presently has fragmented the regions mentioned.
The human brain, evolved to be obligatorily social, extends its perception of group identity of identity to early-learned ingroup identity. Perceived loyalties, and identity is difficult to overcome and is causal in our common facultative betrayals, whenever emotions may induce some perception of better likelihood of social advancement.
Stalin and others outright murdered those who exhibited identity differing from muscovite -- see the immediate rounding up of Ukrainkan folkmusicians in the late 1920s, as well as the far longer persecution pf Ashkenazi Jewish population, and sl many smaller group identities, such as Crimean Tatar, to begin to understand only the active intentionally pursued atrocious formation and maintenance of empire.
Thank you for your support and your hard work. 💙💛🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Excellent wake up call Professor Snyder!!! Sincere compliments. Thank you 🇳🇱
Perfect....❤❤❤
Why aren't people like him heard more often on the news etc, brilliant and well spoken. 👏
It would be nice to see Snyder debate a person like John Mearsheimer
No, he is too dumb. He is a dishonest propagandist. You dont seem to be an educated person with a comment like that
Shit-For-Brains Mearsheimer doesn't hold a candle to Snyder LOL.
@@Mrpartycrascher Loner Box made a great video on the latter 🥰
He won't cos John wipe wipe the lavatory with him. John has been available to ALL from NY to Shanghai but Snyder is always nowhere to be seen. There's a reason.
@@Addission17 The reason is that no body buys Snyder
I disagree in part. The Americans can easily accept the idea that wars are entirely fought on foreign soil because it’s basically unfathomable to most Americans that war could ever take place inside the United States that wasn’t a civil war of our own making. Thus it was actually quite easy to trick the minds of Americans into thinking this way. Unconscious sympathy. Americans lost their collective minds when war was finally brought to our lands (9/11).
Also Russia has zero capability to negotiate “sincerely”. For Russia there is only ever a ceasefire. They will do their best to rebuild and try again.
Yikes. Bad take. Not sure why you would say that. Our White House was burned down during the War of 1812 (along with a good portion of Washington D.C.), and the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor was what finally dragged us into World War 2. Common knowledge amongst those Americans who didn't sleep through middle school History class.
I seem to recall that the UK invaded the US in 1814, and burned the White House (along with other government buildings.) In Dec 1941 the Japanese invaded, and captured, US territories (Philippines, Wake Island.) In 1942, Japan invaded Alaska and wasn't kicked out until 1943. The current attitude towards "conflict containment" arises from fear of war with another nuclear power, and the belief (however unfounded) that all nations want to keep wars confined in scope. In one sense that's quite understandable, but what it broadcasts to all the third world countries is that they need to become nuclear powers. However, I completely agree with the statement that for ruzzia there is only ceasefires, to allow them the chance to rebuild and try again. Their violation of treaties they've signed is never ending.
Also about 911, some hints on the roots are pointing towards the kremlin.
1. You missed the part where no russian ever had a problem with ukraine fighting on russian soil.
2. Why should russia accept nato helping ukraine fight on russian soil when russia didnt touch nato?
3. Last claim is so baseless and dehumanizing its insane.
What if Russia gave missiles to Syria which it then launched to USA. That’s what he is saying.
Professor Timothy Snyder is telling it exactly how it is.
You invade a country, you don't get to dictate how the invaded country responds.
Russia a superpower, don't make me laugh 😂😂😂😂😂
Thank you, prof. Timothy!
Extremely well said. I think another issue is that we are keeping Ukraine ahead just enough to feed the military- industrial complex and get them a 'W'.
Excellent speech.Concise and absolutely right ❤
Thank you for posting. Very interesting.
Thank you, Prof. Snyder, for your brilliant thoughts.
Best speech I heard in a loooong time on the war in Ukraine 🎉 Bravo!
Thank goodness someone who's not a politician stating the obvious.
Obvious? Obvious is that russia shouldnt accept nato fighting against russia when russia didnt attack nato. How do you not understand this?
It would be nice if SOME politicians could see and state the obvious.
@@KolyaUrtz That argument is as old and worn out as dirt. It didn't fly then, and it don't fly now, so give it up.
@@KolyaUrtz How do you not get that in a stable world, Countries can't take over other countries because they have more bombs and bodies?
@@incognitotorpedo42 I do get that...but that isn't what's happening in Ukraine. It's a multi decade brewing both ethnic(Rus and ukr) and geopolitical (Rus and the west) conflict where Russian reasons for attacking are so incredibly both unique and important that it doesn't exist anywhere else. If global Israels empire(America and Europe are vassals of Israel) didn't overthrow ukr government in 2014 and change it in to a anti Russian hostile state...none of this would have ever happened. How far is global banking system allowed to push and corner Russia before Russia retaliates?
Bro forgot why Ukraine is still standing. Literally, every Western country supplies weapons, money, and other goodies to Ukraine 😂
I think we know that many Western countries supply Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid. We should supply even more.
Funny how the VDV got clapped at hostomol and ruzzia had go retreat from the Kyiv oblast before western weapons even began arriving in Ukraine 😂
But keep coping Ivan, the days of ruzzia being a superpower are long gone, now ruzzia is just a chinese vassal lmao.
@@robertjohn6585Ukraine is entirely dependent on the US for handouts and is even more a vassal state of the US than the UK is. As for joining the EU Ukraine would fail every governance test.
There was no need for this war, and Ukraine has benefitted in no way from it, apart from losing much of its male demographic.
Thank you, professor, for telling officials the truth about Russia
The first couple of minutes of this video are so very true! The history of russia was what I learned as a student in the 60's. Timothy Snyder has hit the nail squarely on the head with this assessment. Awesome video! Thank you.
What does that even mean? What are you suggesting? Russian history isnt real or something?
At the start of this war the Ukrainians had to school us in the West to stop referring to their country as "The Ukraine" - Russian appellation designed to diminish the country and its people to an insignificant sub-region of "Greater Russia"
U r totally rite
Ruzzia needs to get what it dishes out....
Such as?
The Yale professor has just eloquently verbalised a conclusion regarding Russia, based upon his learning and personal experience. My own 'common sense' has been telling me for months that Ukraine should be given every assistance, and Russia must not be allowed to be victorious. Ukraine should be invited into the European Union, and at the same time given the opportunity to join NATO. Russia, with Putin as the leader, is very dangerous for the world order, and he needs to be contained. Compared to Russia, China is prowling tiger, dangerous, but will negotiate. China, above all, wishes to trade - upon its own terms ! That's a problem.
So EU should discard it's principles for Ukraine but not for Turkey for example.
@@KuopassaTv Both should be in if possible. Rules are for fools and the guidance of wise men. Douglas Bader I think.
china needs to negotiate coz its not autonomous as 99% of countries - russia is fully and its endlessly rich considering any war spendings, therefore any geopolitical question should be talked about 10000000000 over and over and over, but we live in a world that didnt appear yesterday - aka "u say russia invaded that but didnt you invade something before etc etc" thats why russia is actually the biggest threat to western economic wellbeing since it has the least things to lose arguing
@@wonqa What? China is "not autonomous"? Russia is "endlessly rich"? Dude, what are you smoking?
Wishful thinking 😅😅😅wars never to be predicted, tells us what to given, Ukraine cannot operate weapons that the US or Europe given without their personal and satellite to be operated,
One point when the US NATO invaded irag, Did Russia and China supply weapons to Irag to defend itself, and Ukraine was not part of NATO and committed troops in Irag
Ukraine don't you know the US and NATO invaded Irag illegally lying lying lying have you condemned the US
What's goes around comes around
This world was not built for the Western countries to controlled do what they want and nobody can't do the same you are out of touch with reality,
Your country is destroyed , even given all that you wanted you will not force Russia to come to the table stupid accessment
Once how many countries send money weapons, what's is the outcome nothing
Striking deep into Russia what do you think Russia sit and say let's talk peace, hope this guy is a military expert 😅😅😅 hope not 😅😅😅
The US don't wins war they created havoc and and ran way history shows
Peace chance you have at that time should have been taken but bojo bojo from UK send by the jankeys no,fight to the last Ukrainian, your backers don't have enough weapons to be given, Russia has demilitarised NATO and Ukraine, there's no wonder weapons again,if there's one it's will be knock out and other wonder weapon given
Thank you for the hearing, the streaming, and huge thanks to Prof. Snyder for his intellectual depth and moral clarity, and also eloquence. Fully subscribe to what he's said here. Deeply appreciated, from Kyiv, Ukraine.
as an eastern european myself, i concur. suffered through communism and soviet imperialism enough to not wish this upon future generations. russia has a delightful history and culture. within its borders. i prefer preserving my culture over one imposed upon me.
How ironic, since the west is just as aggressive at exporting its culture and values… 😂😂😂
Spot on as always!
Snyder has very good understanding of the region and its people coupled with great skill to explain and present these ideas with a respectful moral lense.
Omg yes! Thank you for calling out those hidden assumptions and biases.
The West should help Ukraine win, not barely survive the war.
Ukraine cannot win. Russia will do whatever is necessary to hold onto the former eastern provinces of Ukraine.
Thank you for standing with Ukraine! 💙💛
So concise and so true. Thanks, professor!
Perfectly said and understood! Thank you Sir.
Thank you, professor
WOW!!
Mr Biden and all the fence sitters, PLEASE listen to this man, because he is more aware of the situation and it's implications than any of you!!
Brilliant!
Seriously overrated the Ukrainians and seriously underrated the Russians yup. Obama-Hillary.
💙💛
Colors of scum!
Excellent - western politicians and 'leaders' should be coached by this guy.
Outstanding!
Not so much...
So, native born Americans don't know much about European history...What a shocking thing to learn!!! LOL
It tickles me pink that Russia supporters thought Ukraine is obligated to keep the war within their own borders, and that the invaders' country should be free from consequences.
You think war is funny?
@@JohnDoe-lw2nmNot as funny as claiming to be against war, while cheering the aggressor. A fake pacifist, pretending to care about "sAVinG LiVeS."
And what are you going to say when Russia drops a nuke? Do you think USA would put up with being invaded? We didn't even want nukes 90 miles away from us.
@@tradeprosper5002 Because it would be okay for the US to resist an invasion, but God forbid Ukraine do the same, right? And please, stop with the "nukes, nukes" line. Every time your hero Putin gets humiliated, you always go back to that hopeless prayer. You just sound desperate 😅.
@@MrSlanderer I remember Cuba and Kennedy so your take on nuclear war does make me desperate at your ignorance. Russia confrontation could get easily elevated and Putin is not my hero. Ukraine is not a nuclear power and is paying the price for being a Western proxy.
Wrong, the USA fights Russia on Ukraine territory! And to quote senator Lindsi Graham, The USA will fight Russia to the last Ukrainien. Professorship doesn’t help, try to be honest.
West allways overestimated Russia way more than it deserves.
Cool, but Russia spit on your and all western world opinions😂 clowns 🤡
OK Why not watch the front lines in Ukraine? Careful to avoid emotional damage
@@AcikaB Those just show how weak Russia is.
@@Darth.Augustus BS They are advancing and will continue to do so. You must be sleeping. That is a crap statement
@@AcikaB yeah and i am advancing into your mom
Stop talking about “Russian imperialism” and “imperial thought” as though America isn’t also an empire.
The US also wrongly assumed that Russia was the powerhouse of the Soviet Union, when in fact it was always Ukraine.
soviet union was much more poorer than russia, wtf everyone talks about.
The Ukraine is created by the USSR!
Ukraine is officially poorer than Albania. TF you talking about ?
@@jinkazama7491 He spoke about the period of the Soviet Union when, thanks to Ukraine, they were able to send rockets into space and accomplish many other things that were done by Ukrainians in the USSR. Ukraine is a rich country and always has been, but it is being robbed by its neighbor.
@@anttif.
People like Snyder, still talk about the USSR even though it’s been decommissioned more than 30 years ago. Other post Soviet countries including Russia has managed to get their act together since then except for Ukraine, which shows this is a Ukrainian problem and not it’s neighbours. Guys like Snyder need to stop blaming Russia for Ukraines incompetence.
One thing that must be NON-NEGOTIABLE is that Ukraine MUST become a member of NATO.
That is the only thing that will give Ukraine security.
The Budapest memorandum, signed by Russia and western countries gave a security guarantee, on paper, in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. Big mistake.
When Russia invaded, the west did nothing. The memorandum was worthless.
Nevertheless, Ukraine fought back.
I have huge respect for Ukraine’s military capability.
🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇧
bravo
for what? not understanding basic geopolitics?
@@KolyaUrtz Trolling for Russia won't work here.
@@tayler2396 trolling? im only one here actually giving arguments and counter arguments while anyone i tried to debate just insults me... by all definitions of trolling ur the one trolling since you arent actually trying to argue but are just looking to insult the other guy
@@KolyaUrtz Look, we all saw Russia amass its army and invade Ukraine with plans to destroy it. Previously, we saw how Russia stole Crimea. We know that Russia started the insurgency and contributed little-green-men troops into the Donbas. We know that Russia poisoned people in our countries, arguably an act of war on our soil. We saw Russia force down a RyanAir commercial jet and kidnap a Russian oppostion leader.
In short, we know what Putin's Russia is. You can play your games, try to muddy the waters, but it's not going to succeed, at least not on this forum.
Thank you Professor Snyder, very informative information
"The Americans were wrong". Wow, what a profound statement.
Professor Snyder gets it
No he doesnt. I could ask him one question and his entire world view would crumble
The only people to listen to are professor Jeffrey sachs, professor Mearsheimer, col. McGregor and Scott Ritter
Truth
how?
Ukrainians ruled the USSR, but in 1985 they were pushed from power by Gorbachev. That was the critical moment. Ukraine doesn't need any Russian influence on its territory from the moment Ukrainians lost influence on Kremlin.
Amen!
one of the dumbest videos I've seen in a long time. It's obvious that the Americans have always acted pragmatically. Just as with NATO expansion, for them the situation of ignoring the Russian position is a win-win, so now they realize that China is their main geopolitical competitor, that Russia is not the main target, and they clearly understand what kind of power Russia has. This is not Iran, whose proxies can hit some base with a couple of missiles. Too much escalation with Russia can lead to a real alliance with China and serious consequences for American proxies around the globe
Great thoughts. Thank you, Prof. Synder
US is hegemonic imperialist, Russia is a mere state, dont you recall 1990 and Gei Will 'Pax Americana?'
Spot on!🇬🇧
*Everything this guy said about empire is more true about the USA than Russia.*
The USA has created more coups and aggressed on more countries over the past 70 years than any other country.
It is the USA that has also invaded all these countries with bombs and troops and missiles without ever being invaded itself.
Sometimes it has invaded directly, other times via proxies or coups, other times through financial manipulation.
But all the time the USA has done so and has not been invaded or under consistent assault.
Ukraine has no possibility of winning this conflict even if they do bomb Russia, which will also likely just make Russia more determined to pacify Ukraine more completely.
It is also untrue that Russia has not been willing to negotiate peace in this war. Russia had almost negotiated peace w Ukraine back in 2022, but the West told Zelensky to quit negotiations.
There needs to peace negotiations immediately before this gets way out of hand. Russia will not give up the land it has taken, and may likely take more land if this conflict goes on.
In the name of PEACE, realize that this man is either lying or is severely delusional about the chances of subduing Russia in this war. Viktor Orhan is right to call for talks, then ceasefire, then a treaty.
As allways absolutely brilliant speach, thank you Mr. Snyder ❤️🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦❤️.
Go Ukraine….lots of love from a small democracy New Zealand. Hopefully we can convince the Meat Heads of US so called Academia; Tweedle Dumb; Mearsheimer and Tweedle De Sach and gets them to look at this from small Democracy’s eyes!
for the algo
The man who wrote On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
Prof. Snyder says at one point, "the idea that when you invade a country the entire war must take placce on the territory of the country you've invaded. No one has ever said that before."
While Professor Snyder is right, he is old enough to know better. The Korean war, the Vietnam war, the war in Afghanistan are all examples of where the US (or UN in case of Korea) constrained itself to fighting only in the country that was invaded. The US considered North and South Korea two parts of Korea. When China entered the war, the US would not take action in China to stop the flow of weapons and men. Now there is a stalemate - NO PEACE TREATY HAS EVER BEEN SIGNED between the two Koreas. Only a cease fire. While fighting in Vietnam the US bombed North Vietnam, and briefly made incursions into Cambodia and Laos - to fight North Vietnamese invaders there, they stayed out of North Vietnam. The US gave up there. In the Afghanistan war, most of the Taliban homeland is in Pakistan, which country's good will the US depended on to ship thousands of tons of supplies to Afghanistan, and so the US could never invade or even bomb those Taliban territories.
Very good points.
That's the point it's doesn't work when you trying to keep the war in one country hoping it doesn't spill out into a next. It just create a long war and even more bloodshed.
and thats why it fail let hide and built shreth is not good tactic
Wait a minute, youi're telling me that the Vietnamese invaded Vietnam? Vietnam was a crime against humanity and not a good example of a country acting purely in defensive self interest - - this is what Tim Snyder means by the US accepting implicitly the Moscow imperial narrative! It does so through normalising its past atrocities as well! It plays the game of big powers that can run smaller ones!
How can we break out of this viscious escalation between two world super power nations unable to tell the morality of why imperial domination of others is bad??!!!
Despite the very attractive hand movements much of what this man said was tosh.The USA is desperate to keep the war in Ukraine and so are the Europeans.
Is he saying there should be American boots on Russia? Good luck with that.
I wish the Prof would be as eloquent in opposing "special military operations" carried by the West in places like Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc. Otherwise, his staunch defence of Ukraine looks more and more like Russophobia. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Russia’s invasion in essence it's fundamentally no different from Western overreach in the Middle East or South East Asia unless you think only SMOs in Europe by a Big Power you dislike are unjustified.
Rather obvious difference I’m afraid. The ‘West’ never had the slightest intention to conquer, brutalise & absorb those countries you mention. Ill-judged as some of those ventures may have been, with sometimes dubious motives, they did non involve an intent, as is clear in Russia’s case in Ukraine, to deny those countries’ very existence.
@briansullivan5135 Over 3 million Vietnamese peasants died. Vietnam was bombed 3X as heavily as Nazi Germany. How many Vietnamese then could even point America on a map? Good intentions are not enough. Lots of evil is done around the world based on "good intentions". And you naively suggest the stated intentions of Western SMOs are the real intentions, when in fact they're just media spins to woo world public opinion. At least Russia is fighting a war across its border, and not 1000s of miles away from home, across vast oceans and against peoples whose languages they can't even understand. Russia is fighting a typical European war in Ukraine, while America has been fighting classic colonial wars against 'uncivilized tribes', with the best of intentions, of course.
@@briansullivan5135 Over 3 million peasants were killed in Indo-China alone. That's a heavy price to pay for Western "mistakes" and good intentions.
@@ncheedxx0109 The USA did not attempt to *annex* Vietnam, Afghanistan, Libya, nor any other country in living memory. The most recent major territorial expansion of the United States was in 1867 when the US purchased (not annexed!) Alaska. Russia, however, has ACTUALLY annexed parts of Georgia and Ukraine just in the past 2 decades, not to mention the illegal Russian occupation of Moldovan territory since the 1990's.
@paulwarren9927 So waging an illegal war costing millions of lives and against a 3rd world country that poses no threat to the West can be excused because the aggressor does not intend to annex any territory. That's twisted logic. Sorry, but Russia's SMO in Ukraine makes more sense to me than America bloody adventurism in SE Asia and the Middle East. The professor would have more cred if his sense of outrage over Ukraine extended to senseless wars waged by the West outside Europe. As it is, he sounds more like a Prof Dick Cheney.
They fear Ukraine will become a big power..
Thank you Professor Timothy Snyder. Hope this makes more people think and see what's really going on and why.
Thank you for such a clear explanation!
A great example of the reality in the war against Ukraine!!!!!
why didnt he mention nato weapons?
@@KolyaUrtz Because they will only be used when NATO is attacked.
@@vincentmahon6423 they are currently being used by Ukrainians
I sincerely hope the policy making people are listening to this guy
I needed that explanation! ♥️🇺🇸🇺🇦 🫠
NATO started the war and so in Iraq, Libya and Syria
Silly. We accepted the idea that Ukraine couldn’t attack Russia on its own soil because we took Russia's nuclear threats seriously. The U.S. feared that crossing this red line would provoke a nuclear response, not because attacking Russia was unimaginable, but because a nuclear power like Russia had never been attacked on its own territory before. Real fear dictated this restraint, not a lack of will or principle.
Absolutely spot on assessment
So what they're saying to US partners and allies around the world is, get nukes?
Nuclear non-proliferation has been a failure.
No. We accepted that term because its logical that its unjust for russia to fight nato when russia didnt attack nato...how hard is this to understand?
@@KolyaUrtz How hard is it to understand that supplying military aid to Ukraine is not the same thing as NATO fighting Russia?
Did the US fight the Vietcong in Vietnam, or did the US also fight the Soviets, Chinese, North Koreans, Cubans, and Khmer Rouge in Vietnam?
@@tayler2396 Everyone accepts that viet war was also a proxy war for ussr. No one ever said otherwise...and its completely different since that ussr help just defended vietnam and didnt attack the US mainland. Today nato fighting a proxy war in ukraine and indirectly attacking russia is just insane considering russia never touched nato or harmed it in any way. Its a one way war. Currently russia is justified nuking nato let alone if nato provides ukraine long range missiles and helps it destroy russian things deep in russia. Then especially.
Timothy Snyder the great truth provider! 😀
I think it is less about our having accepted Russian concepts of imperialism and more about concerns that if Russia's back is pressed too hard against the wall that they'll pop off some nukes. Which is something no one wants to see.
This has caused the U.S. to be overly cautious about what it supplies Ukraine and how it allows Ukraine to use what has been supplied. If there was no nuclear threat, I don't think those restrictions would have even been considered, let alone imposed.
Basically, the U.S. wants the Ukrainians to win, but not at the price of Russia opening the pandora's box of nuclear attacks, even small scale tactical nukes.
However, I don't think that Ukraine can be or should be held back by those concerns. They need to prosecute the war in the way that seems most likely to gain them success. And if that means using their own weaponry, that they've developed and produced themselves, in attacks against the Russian heartland, they should do that.
In fact, due to Russia's violation of the terms of the Budapest Memorandum, we have every right to manufacture nuclear weapons, especially when we are constantly threatened with them.
@@Anddriiyy Russia doesnt threaten you with nukes, stop fearmongering. All russia did is war that if YOU attack russia you will be nuked...which all nuke possesing nations do. How hard is this to understand???
pretty sure russia attacked coz of complete inability of Ukraine government to do its job, 40% of gdp for 10+ years was a gas tax, they got countless loans which were excused countless times and loans still arent paid to this day (ukraine refused to pay them before 2014) with the further utterly disrespectful breakage of any cooperation and going to the point of oppressing any type or russian nationality within the country + heavily going towards russian competition with all of the investments they gained from russia