The USA occupying Europe? Those who believe this absurdity need to see how happy are countries like Poland, the Baltic countries, Romania etc welcoming American forces and American military sites in those countries. American and NATO forces in general represent the security of these countries and a barrier against Russian aggression.
America just attacked an allied country (Germany), destroyed its economically vital energy infrastructure and caused a massive ecological disaster in the Baltic sea. The America that built the post 1945 world order no longer exists.
It's a fact tho that the USA is occupying Europe, or at least part of it. I was born and raised in Italy and I can tell you that Italian sovereignty is limited based on USA interest, so I have a really hard time to see Russia as my enemy since they never did nothing harmful to Italy
@@paolodandrea4299 You should check the definition of "occupation"... You should try Russian occupation You would know the difference . Washington didn't chose G. Meloni as PM : Italian people elected her...
@@ennediend2865 this might sock you but there isn't any Russian military bases in Italy but there is plenty of US military bases. When it comes to Meloni sure she was elected by Italians but right before the elections that everybody new she was going to win the co-founder of her party Grosetto flew to Washington to assure US that nothing was going to change. If you are aware of Meloni political history you would know that her foreign policy is completely different of her views before becoming PM
“ It's a fact tho that the USA is occupying Europe” What utter crap! Almost everybody in Europe has never personally seen an American military uniform or vehicle. Utter stupid ignorant bilge.
Russia attacks it's neighbours, russifies them, takes away their independence, persecutes its citizens, commits genocide and then wonders why said neigbours don't want a repeat.
Completely agree. Although I'm sure Dr. Hill understands that point, she seems to avoid directly stating that and goes off onto tangents and into nuances about Western diplomatic misplays in dealing with Russia. Poppycock! The interview hit it on the nose at the start of the interview when he said Putin based his expansionist play on MYTHOLOGICAL history. Also the academic failure of Western academicians to clearly state the difference between Rus'-Ukraine and Moscovia-Russia (Rosiya) plays into the Kremlins hand in falsely blending the history of two different territories and definitely time lines.
Wow! Fiona Hill none other!! Who will be next on your illustrious list of interviewees?? How do you get all these heavyweights??? This is an *absolute* must watch. Getting out the popcorn right now.
@@SiliconCurtain found your channel few weeks ago. Great insights into Russia and the Ukraine war. Keep up the good work. There’s a good channel with Jake broe , he does almost daily videos about the Ukraine war . He has a lot of viewers . Maybe get contact with him and do an interview. Grow your channel.
Great interview. The best in depth analysis on thy net. Agree 100 % with Dr. Hill. Never bow to sick dictators. Slava Ukraine from Hungary. Glory to the heroes of Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
You are talking about a SLAVIC Commonwealth. But you cannot do this by force. It takes charm, respect, and friendship. Russia has never shown others in it's orbit respect. Only dominance and force. Putin may NOT have Ukraine !!! Not any part !!! " If you give a mouse a cookie..." Appeasement is NOT an option !!
22:37 “And it really does come down to the fact that Russia, unfortunately, over the last 23 years, has evolved into a system where only one man counts. And it’s gone back to kind of, as you say, to the period of the Czars were we’re now in a kind of succession crisis.” - Fiona Hill great observation and a bit concerning to be honest
It’s actually worse- because in tsarist times there were a range of advisors around the tsar, and competing class interests. Today’s Russia has far fewer checks and balances than the Soviet Union even! It’s like the bit in Star Wars when a Sith Lord takes over the republic and kills everyone….
I think you are both missing the point about Zelenskiy saying Putin is ”nobody”. Actually, I had to go back to the interview and listen again when I started seeing people saying referring to Zelenskiy saying that Putin is a nobody. That's not what I heard and that's not what he said. Furthermore, I don't think that was due to his lack of command of the English language. To be clear: Zelenskiy did not say Putin is ”a” nobody. He switched over to English because he wanted to make it very clear that there would be no one there on the other side of the table for the purpose of a diplomatic conversation and making binding agreements. The chair would be empty, even though a body would be sitting in it. Hence it’s not interesting to even go there. Of course, Putin is somebody, but the problem for Zelenskiy, in an attempt for diplomatic and constructive negotiations, Putin cannot be trusted in these matters in any way whatsoever. He will always break any agreement, which has been proven time and time again throughout the history of his ever-increasing dictatorial rule.
Absolutely right; he is definitely the 21st Some body; Vladimir Putin will some how, must be persuaded to bring WWW3 to an end; granted immunity from war crimes and allowed to live out his days somewhere; the prospect beckons, that if not the game, is over for us all
This is get, and it’s worth addressing in a future interview. The point I was trying to provoke, was that Yeltsin magicked this sinister character into power practically from nowhere. He was a real nobody, and there were thousands of ex KGB thugs who could have just as easily been picked to be the Putin type figure to fulfil the plans of the KGB and Yeltsin
Thank you so very much for that input. In times of conflict it is of cause impossible to avoid the simple ridiculing of the opponent. But I am strangely uplifted by reading your comment, that Zelinsky, of all psychologically and morally entitled people, nevertheless keeps himself to a higher and more meaningful standard! You, Dear Lady, are one of the persons making the 'The Comment Fields of RUclips' a 'noteworthwhile' place to visit! One of the 'participating citizens' the original creators of RUclips must have dreamed of.
The Russian economy depended on Europe. Not the other way round. As can be seen in the data. 85% of Russian exports went to Europe. Putin just thought Europe would not care about the annexation of Ukraine. And that it would be easy.
@@alanbrookes6637 Sure is… though I not sure that I like “sincere” …. People can cut off your head will bro g sincerely sorry about it.. How about she’s is straight, open and honest..
@@alanbrookes6637A liberal intent on evangelizing democracy, even when it may not be in a location or at a time in US interests. This war was avoidable. She missed the signs and misjudged the actions. Neville Chamberlain was articulate, wise and sincere. Louis XVI was forgiving, educated, generous and weak. Czar Nicholas was reserved and dumb. All were the wrong men at the wrong place at the wrong time. They took the wrong action. Fiona is that girl.
@@SiliconCurtain Please tell Dr Hill that we are many who thirst for those deep, thoughtful, (and it at all possible: constructive ) answers! Your collaboration could really create a new, more solid foundation, make a difference, turning the 'click bait tragedy' of general RUclips, into a sincere popular movement even? Of course not appeasement, Heaven forbid, but a growing group of people advocating, demanding? even, that this conflict based on 'cross-purpose, BUT APPARENTLY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE worldviews' not ONLY be taken militarily seriously, but ALSO psychologically, philosophically etc (you could ask Vlad Vexler to join in). In order to find a more PERMANENTLY VIABLE solution.
giving Ukraine to the Russians to appease them, reminds me of what we did back in the 30's with the old Bohemia ( Czech Republic ) when we closed our eyes to Adolf's pretensions...just to prevent a war, and we know how well it played out
Fiona is great as always. On Putin as a "history man": he showed this streak just a few years into his presidency, when he had the grave of Anton Denikin, a Russia imperial general, moved back to Russia. He made a point it was funded by his own money.
I love listening to and learning from Dr. Hill and have tremendous respect for her. Congratulations and best wishes to her in her new position as Chancellor of Durham University in northeastern UK. This new appointment will bring her back to the County of her birth, no doubt to be closer to her family. It also must be very gratifying for her to serve as Chancellor at such a historic and prestigious university. For the daughter of a coal miner, Dr. Hill has led an incredible and impressive life. Everyone should remember: Dr. Hill's boss, John Bolton, who was born in the U.S., was un-American, cowardly and cynically motivated to sell more copies of his book when he refused to testify before the U.S. House or Senate in the first impeachment of President Trump over his extortionary telephone call with Ukraine's President Zelinsky. (Why CNN gives John Bolton any air time as some credible, respectable commentator is beyond me; but that has been par for the course for CNN.) Remember also: It was left to John Bolton's underlings, Dr. Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman, both immigrants to the U.S. and both naturalized U.S. citizens, to take the heat (including death threats) and testify truthfully before Congress at great personal cost. So, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Hill for her integrity and courage.
Unfortunately the neocon movement is much more aggressive. But outside of that, the US did also intervene in the Shah of Iran situation. I view that as our worst misstep. They had a democratically elected leader who hated the United States so the US overturned that government and help install a dictator. A really horrific dictator. And that was before the neocons. The US has also been implicated in collapsing currencies. I think World War 1 & 2 changed American leadership to be more interventionist.
Great interview she's articulating my thoughts about all this with putins Russia she's like an agony aunt .. and helps my understanding of global politics, I feel continually incredulous and outraged about russia dragging us all back in time like this ,its truly terrifying and awful.So glad for Silicon curtain and people like Fiona to help us try and make sense it of all.Wonderful ,thankyou!
A real pleasure to watch this, Jonathan, with some very new and interesting snippets of information from Fiona about the Yeltsin/Bush exchanges from the 90s. A very stimulating discussion, too, of the situation in Europe and Russia and the geopolitical perspective from the United States. You've had a succession of really great guests, excellent conversations and value by the bucket load. I'm not you're how you're managing to be so successful at getting such excellent people to contribute! But really, you're doing a fantastic job. Great to watch. Do keep on with this. Please don't stop!
Think of the advice we give children if they are bullied at school. " tell someone you trust " then when they do nothing happens to the bully especially if teachers don't see it happening. From our simplest social institutions we have little success stopping bullies. The victims are just supposed to youghen up. Sociopaths always know what buttons to push because they study people for vulnerabilities. Intellectuals never understand Sociopaths and think they can persuade with clever arguments. The sociopath never intends to stop trying to meet their own needs and thinks it's funny watching the intellectual seeking a logical solution.
Not many ppl are prepared to call out schools, hidden curiculums , socialisation and tory/conservstive ideology as being the main problem the world faces. When they spent their whole lives telling people the opposite.
There are bad people in the world. This is why we need to stop the predators and not go easy on them. Its normal to have compassion for people and to be understanding of their “come from.” But, at the end of the day we must deal with bullies, predators, victimizers despite our compassion.
Between Ukrainian voices describing the cultural and informational realities of the war, and eminent experts like Fiona Hill providing global context, this channel is a very valuable source for understanding the invasion. 🇺🇦
I've listened to maybe a dozen Fiona Hill interviews in the past 12 months and I always get something new. Thanks so much for another great discussion.
Please do a sequel, Fiona is one smart, articulate woman with huge insight, experience and appreciation,! An obviously talented analyst who always manages to distil complex issues down to easy, simple explanation. You only touched on it at the end but I've always viewed Putin the Putrid as a cunning but unsophisticated ruthless conservative thug. To me he seem threatened by the emerging Russian contemporary view of life and wants to return, for safety, to the conservative, "old" world that he knows and feels comfortable with. He likes being an autocratic leader for life, a dictator or tsar. He feels threatened by modern culture, modern democracy, independent thought. He cannot stand Ukraine being an independent country free of subservience to Moscow and worries that the Ukrainian independence example threatens his rule of Russia, essentially the existential threat to Russia that democracy and freedom of thought means. Please invite Fiona to discuss this aspect.
He definitely miscalculated NATO response, now his ego has him trapped in a costly war that eventually will have Russia conceding defeat. Dr Hill sums him up accurately.
We're very proud of Fiona Hill here in the UK. A very clever & knowledgeable lady who left England for good reason & much bigger opportunities in the US. Girl Done Good! I'm equally glad she may be returning to Britain in some small way, with her connection to Durham University. Great stuff. Putin is toast. Sláva Ukraini!
Dr. Hill, Julia Ioffe, Alexander Vindman... there are so many great voices that provide so many different perspectives on the Russian/Slavic world. Really appreciate Dr. Hill's insight.
This woman is a geopolitical celebrity in my book. I don’t know how you scored this interview but it has to be the most valuable yet, by far. God I would love to ask her so many questions.
It is not a cultural conflict. Ukraine's value to Russia lies in its natural resources, land, oil, gas and minerals onshore as well as offshore in Sea of Azov and Black Sea. Just as the English did in invading Scotland, should Russia prevail it will as far as possible clear the 'little Russian' population driving them as refugees to the West or exhiling them to the east per Stalin's example with the Tartars. With the native population cleared or subjugated, Putin and his cronies will swoop on the spoils.
I would like to hear someone of Fiona's scholarship and experience speculate upon: a Ukraine 'victory' and what the west needs to do in calibration with the Kremlin to prevent another phase of Russian imperialism. Assuming we get past this phase of imperialism without nuclear disaster? I've heard some commentators estimate 20 million extreme nationalists in Russia, how do we engage constructively to diffuse this cycle of expansion and collapse?
Basically, Russia, post Putin, needs Marshall Plan 2.0. 4eparati9ns and punitive shit may be just and cathartic but it will only beget more misery and tragedy.
I would very much second that motion. I have written likewise, on this channel and elsewhere. But no answer yet. Dr. Hill and perhaps Vlad Vexler could come up with an understandable, philosophically and practically coherent plan that the West could understand and back and Russia could accept and get behind? Never stop believing in miracles! Remember in Old Italian 'miracle' just meant '(currently) inexplicable' - strictly speaking it never meant 'impossible'.
Well we don't start by permitting those Russian Imperialists to benefit by violence. Getting what they want out of this war will only convince them that war works. The nuclear issue is never going to go away. Treating Russia softly because we are too afraid is only delaying the issue. Europe let Hitler get away with invading his neighbours, because they were afraid of another WW1..... and they got WW2. It is only by demonstrating conclusively that war does not "work" do we knock the props out from under the warmongers.
@@angusmatheson8906 ... Keep in mind that there was considerable foreign capital injected into Russia after the Soviet collapse. It failed due to corruption on a grand scale. Putin is a multi-billionaire on a wage of about $150k per year. Private companies were just as much targets for invasion and looting as neighbouring nations. That would have to change.
The geniuses at the IOC and FIBA gave him the Olympics and the World Cup. Nobody flinched when he plundered and stole Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea and Central Asia. He strutted around the world stage for nearly a decade as though he actually belonged. He doesn't. He is the epitome of delusional. Keep the pressure on relentlessly. He'll choke.
He was an officer in KGB in East Berlin. IMO it was Merkell who gave him a world presence and acceptability. She feted him, others followed as she positioned herself as the 'leader" of the rest in the EU. Friendly. Approachable. Welcoming. I think she's pulled the wool over everyones eyes. She's now not seen or heard of.
Putin was an officer in KGB in East Berlin. IMO it was Merkell who gave him a world presence and acceptability. She feted him, others followed as she positioned herself as the 'leader" of the rest in the EU. Friendly. Approachable. Welcoming. I think she's pulled the wool over everyones eyes. She's now not seen or heard of. She got all her energy from Russia. Blind faith. Either she was hood winked like others or they colluded to hood wink the lot together!!
It seems that distorted nostalgia is a particular insanity that makes older individuals think they must make their national groups “ great again”. Definitely delusional dreams of sick grandeur. They re-remember and remake how it was and of course edit out those who suffered or at the very least didn’t prosper…and the most important thing in common is that always an “ other” is found to blame!
Dear Jonathan. Thank you VERY much, for making new questions that go a layer deeper. I mean listening to Dr Hill is ALWAYS fascinating, even when it is 'the same old questions', but this time was even more brilliant! And thanks a lot for your long format contributions. You really contribute with a lot of insight. Two points beyond that. One nitty little presentation detail. When you read aloud, or check a question or argument, you lower your eyes JUST enough to break you otherwise quite acceptable line of sight with the interviewer. To me it breaks the feeling of your otherwise inspiring presence! I'm not a tech nerd, so I can't tell you HOW to fix it, but an improvement would make it a lot easier for me to focus on your brilliant content. Secondly, like many other, I hope for, and would like to hear about WHAT could 'a relatively as happy as possible end' be? Or a reasonable road there? I mean if we assume the the West cannot, or will not risk, bringing a STUNDE NULL (the complete Nazi breakdown realised by all Germans) to the Russians/Putin, how COULD one persuade the Russians or their leadership (be it Putin or not) to get out of their traumatic, 'old-fashioned' (for want of a better term) look on the West or indeed the World and into the growth and prosperity of a NON-zero-sum-future? I allow myself to believe in a brighter future for a non-imperial Russia. Because, as a Dane, we've experienced being a superpower (of our known world) through several periods in history: the Vikings, the North Sea Mare Nostrum of King Canute the Great, the Baltic Mare Nostrum of King Valdemar the Victorious, the Danish lead Kalmar Union (Europe's largest country pre-Columbus), the world third largest fleet at times in 16-1700's. Never the less we've (almost voluntarily) given up on world dominance. And today Denmark (along with our Scandinavian 'partners') is regulally scored among the most prosperous nations on Earth. And hailed as democratic paragons! In English textbooks of 'development of national economy' there is a phrase in the how-to chapters called 'Getting to Denmark' . In French textbooks it's called ' La methode Suedoise'. And we are regularly scored as the happiest! So it IS possible to be rich and happy, post-imperial-dreams. Just saying. Sorry about the rant, not completely without national pride, but I felt that it HAD to be solid, convincing AND proud to be appealing to Russians. As I understand it, is that not what Russia wants for herself?
One should not forget that Russia is not an economical viable entity! When the American Midwest opened up with railroads the incredibly fertile - basically - grass plains were more than excellent for producing grain. This meant that the USA after the civil war was producing grain etc. at a price nobody could compete with. That hurt Russia with a sledge hammer: Now they could not export grain - simply because they could not compete with the pricing of American grain. Stalin tried to rationalize the agricultural sector in Russia - with some success at the huge cost of depopulating Russia. Russia collapsed in WW1, not because there was a shortage of food, but because there was an abundance. Now the same pattern repeats itself. The world is not going to run out of oil or energy. Germany ran out of coal; but generally there is LOTS of coal. There is lots of oil/gas - lots - especially in the USA. Europe is not going to pay the paracites in the oil producing states forever - just look at Ve, but tnezuela. A lot will be through more efficient use of energy. Just try to imagine the fuel burn pr. seat mile of the Super Constellation of Howard Hughes fame - and then relate it to the fuel economy of an Airbus. Export of natural gas is mainly a waste disposal problem. The problem is that Russia CANNOT produce oil and gas to a competitive price - especially not if they have to pay for the expensive toys of the oligarks - the oligarks are generally comparable to the sychophants sourrounding the zar. The problem with the Ukraine-Russia war is: There will be no Russia left - the economic model of communism did not work then - it won't work now. As it is: Russias economy is the size of Spains. What Russia and Putin thinks and opines is irrelevant. Saudi Arabia is a large country, but most of it is desert. Russia is a large country populated by kindling. It took about 50 years before the greatest meteor impact (Tunguska event) was even found out. Early on it was known that something had happened, but where and what was swallowed in Russian quackmire. Russia does not have a role to play in the modern world. The Sovjet empire collapsed with the fall of the Berlin wall, Russia will once again collapse, as if anyone expected that disaster to go away unnoticed, they were wrong. The most likely outcome will be a series of civil wars in Russia.
A very inconsequential observation: Fiona Hill has my favorite British accent. Very soothing. I know she has said her Northern England accent was a negative back home. I love it.
if Russian wants to stop so called America’n control, Putin should get rid of ALL brand companies in the country. No Coke. No iPhones. No jeans. No everything! It’s not American political control, it’s the lifestyle that everyone wants. Remove all that and what do you have left? When I visited Poland in 1979, people followed me and offered money for the jeans I was wearing! They didn’t want the Canadian political structure - they just wanted stuff! So remove the lifestyle, and you would end up with a medieval society. Everyone everywhere want stuff. Simple as that!
During the 1960s and 1970s, the French-speaking majority of Quebec finally came of age and took its rightful place as an independent 'nation' within Canada. I was born in this Quebec, as part of the 10% English-speaking minority. Over a span of a decade, we saw many of our linguistic rights diminished, leading to the limiting of our ability to maintain our size and influence through the education system. Though there were some tense periods with scattered acts of violent protest and political kidnappings, the 'two solitudes' have come to a mutual understanding, and now our issues are being handled exclusively within the political sphere. I'm pointing this out in order to draw a certain parallel between the English-speaking minority in Quebec and the Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. Any and all disagreements with regard to language and culture are always best solved through discussion, mutual respect, and an exchange of creative ideas that lead to solutions. Back in 1977, we didn't want the UK or the US to come in and take over our territory in order to preserve our culture, language and way of life. We settled things internally. That's what I would have expected in Ukraine. What has happened since that fateful day of Feb 24, 2022, is beyond unfortunate, and the violence is senseless.
@@peterwebb8732 Another brain dead moron spews western lies. Google the Minsk agreements and check how Merkel, Orland and the former President of Ukraine boasted that their support for these agreements was just a lie to build Ukraine's military to fight Russia.
What a BEAUTIFUL discussion guys. Lovely nuance, deft examination of structure, the corrupting framing of policy based on limit personal perceptions. Prompt and illuminating examination of structures of both society and THOUGHT itself over decades. You point us all to the vital truism that ALL OF US, and especially public figures must be cautious of our private frame of understanding, and we all must be willing to change and grow. Thanks, both of you. Good health to both of you and may the glorious non event of peace settle on all of us.
The west should have stood up immediately when Russia was starting this. It is the same with China. We have, in each case, failed to sew that stitch that would have kept the sweater (the peace) from coming unraveled. Dictators must know for certain that if they misbehave they will take an immediate serious consequence and zero benefit. Don Hansen
Unfortunately not an option for a democratic leader. If the West is being blamed even by many of it's own citizens for the war now, can you imagine how much more strident that blame would be if earlier action were taken?
Really happy to see that Fiona is no longer concerned about Putins offramp like she was at the beginning of all this. I really thought she was a useful fool intellectual at that point.
It's always hard to know how much depends on the questions raised by journalists and others. We can guess that she at that time, a year ago, said just the same as virtually everyone in her circles of academics and analysts at the Brookings Institution, Georgetown University, and so on. They seemed a little dizzy, and had probably expected the Europeans to handle Ukraine and Russia on their own. Now they've had a whole year to concentrate on this crisis and on Russia.
Interesting how she mentioned Turkey and their 1974 Cyprus invasion... I was with the 34th MAU (USMC) on a special naval gunfire liaison team (basically forward observers) and although not in the history books, when the Turks began probing the perimeter of the British base, a game of chicken started ruclips.net/video/lOa9Sg1hZs0/видео.html and as part of the chess game, I was at the tip of the spear that let the Turks know they should NOT overrun the Brits... And yes, I got to hear that life defining Pfffft by my head like in the video... And so, the Turks did NOT over run the base and went around... So, I'm quite familiar with Geopolitics...at the sharp end, right on the tip...
It’s significant that Dr Hill said that as a female, a working class female and a working class female with a northern accent - she knew that she could never have the career she wanted, (specialising in Russia) in a UK context. She knew she would all the time be defined by Britain’s toxic nexus of public-schoolboy sexism and classism. This is why she said she leaped at the chance of American postgrad work, career and citizenship.
Great job by Jonathan to research the guest interviews and look for new angles rather than carbon copy rehashes of interesting answers. A highlight was on the regression to "the political sophistication of a Viking fiefdom", it seemed to amuse Fiona. Fiona's appraisal of the complexity of causes and the mutual incomprehension that has lead to the tragedy was in-depth challenging but clear. The discomfort of hearing such appraisals without the comfort of obvious remedies is significant. Choosing the lesser of evils is always hard.
Glad you said this - I keep all the questions I’ve every asked, and try to vary the angles in each interview. This also means the channel will have to diversify to cover China, turkey, Africa, Middle East and India soon…
@@SiliconCurtain, I love that as a future perspective. The World! And perhaps that might bring you to the BRILLIANT Maria Ressa? I have been thinking of suggesting her for a while, as a person with profound perspectives on democracy and dictatorship.
@@SiliconCurtain I know many of your viewers , myself included, would really value you covering those areas as well! Your guests are always interesting and your questions always insightful. We appreciate your style of conversation that highlights such a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. You've got me hooked!!
@@SiliconCurtainthe effort you put in is what kept me coming back, after the first interview I saw. It took a while but the subs have grown significantly now, you have a valuable archive 😁
I listened at 2.5 speed, and it was a short interview. I listened to Fiona's Mr. Putin, from the the library, at 1.55 speed. It still was a long book. But it had a few essential points that I am glad I got to hear. I thought it was written by one economist, but I missed her name on the title.
Yeah I keep encountering people online who are just convinced by spheres of influence being how things are. If you tell them that it's robbing agency from people and it's somewhat magical thinking, they do not respond well.
Dr. Hill is spot on on so many things. Yet, I think she overlooks the benefits of simplifying things. There are some fundamentals we should keep in mind. First, we cannot change Russia either by force or by persuasion. We sure won't be able to change their worldview through negotiations or by trying to lecture about our ways to them. So, we should assume they will remain the same. That being the case, the only way to stop the war is to give Ukraine the tools it needs to defeat Russia in the battlefield. Even Russian defeat will be a temporary. Russia remains the same. The only long term solution is to accept Ukraine (and potentially Georgia & Moldova) into NATO. After that, Russia has nowhere to expand. If we also keep up the sanctions regime, they will have hard time building up their military power again. Then we'll wait. Patiently. Decades. Maybe even centuries. At some point Russians will change their system, or The Russian Federation will collapse. Until then, only a strong western military power - and readiness to use it - will keep them at bay. I don't see how more nuanced or complex considerations could change these fundamentals.
Very grim prospects, indeed. That would be 'beating Russia on Russia's own terms'. But I fear that in the end you may turn out to be right. However, I sure that you will allow the rest of us trying to figure out various 'seemingly miraculous' ways to see if the 'stalemate of mutual suffering' can be shortened.
@@ulrikschackmeyer848 To be frank, I did not even paint the most pessimistic possible future. Imagine what will happen if Russia won't be defeated in Ukraine and it is able to rebuild it's military. Ukraine won't be Russia's last victim in that case. Anyhow, I do hope someone will come up with a way(s) to ensure more optimistic future. I'd be very glad to be proven wrong.
I very much agree with your assessment as that's how i too see it. Cornering a wounded, injured & aggressive animal is dangerous (as i believe Pootin may have analogized something in past speeches and such) but for the foreseeable i don't see any other way. Even now they're trying to make alliances in places like Africa to keep "The West", etc. off balance and sadly they accept it either due to historical reasons or monetary payments, but i don't see Russia helping the development of these places it appears more just offering weapons and fuel and occasionally food (likely stolen from Ukraine) so basically _feeding_ the corrupt govs of the world, whereas China looks to do it better by seemingly offering development in order to extract the resources of these places while Europe kinda dithers about. And this is the thing, the US was slowly drawing-down it's European forces in order to pivot to Asia and most thought that was where the next big conflict was to emerge which likely added to the Kremlin's calculations to go for it now. It has been a rude awakening for the EU - Europe as a whole - and other 'Western'-aligned nations whom seemed to had closed their eyes and crossed their fingers with a "nah, it'll be fine" attitude, now likely they're going have to increase military spending towards the old Cold War levels to bolster against a re-asserting Russia (which would no doubt please the US to ease their strain as they want to look to the Asia-Pacific) and decide what connections they want with other nations of the world to lessen the influence (corruption?) of Russia & China and be potentially left behind in the resource acquisition game.
As Russia seeks alliance es around the world and in Africa. I wonder how much the West regret destabilising S Africa and handing it on a plate to the ANC. At the very least, the previous government sought to quell Russia and keep them away from the borders and the rich resources found there in!!!!!!
Great interview, but I do have to say that I really believe that everyone (experts included) give too much credit to Putin. He was born to poverty and is uneducated except for his skills learned during his time in office and FSB. He lives in the past because he is uneducated and doesn't have the intellect to judge world events. Right or wrong, I really believe this. 🇨🇦
He not a smart man - or an original thinker. In past years he was very verbally dextrous - I.e able to talk very fluently. But there not much substance to his thought, and I believe he understands nothing at all about economics or how complex, post-industrial societies work…
In a sense, most western nations have always been within imperial formations, with the exception of only a few years. Most of Europe went from having colonies, to joining the EU. But these almost post-modern imperial blocs were predominantly economic and cultural. America presides over North America, but only loosely through treaties, diplomacy, cross border ties and shared governance. The difference is multilateralism versus militarism. Ukraine and Russia should have a similar relationship as America and Canada. Yet the moment violence was selected, that option was foreclosed.
Thank You so much Jonathan for posting this interview with Dr.Fiona Hill whose lucid analysis of a predicament that has enmeshed all whether we like it or not, it is like a tiny beacon from afar, shining into my consciousness, from a very dark place. I look forward to the next time you speak with her and those of her calibre and integrity.
Giving too much credit to Putin for thinking, he thought he could get away with invading Ukraine as they totally underestimated the Ukrainian defence, he didn't at this stage care about the West as he thought it would be a short war and he would strongarm Germany to keep having the gas (Which would have been correct). When the West saw that Ukraine was able to defend itself it supplied defensive weapons that made his position worse and he has just made up stories and lies to try and splinter the West, I don't think he believes a word of it, it's just to achieve his aims. It is correct that he has been the leader for too long, like Xi. The United Kingdom trials and tribulations etc. are not going to go nuclear anytime soon, so it's a domestic - Yawn!?!
Fiona Hill is my hero. Her perspective is unequalled. Thank you for the brilliant insights by both participants. A psychoanalyst’s view of puny Vlad would also be fascinating.
My very thought, and regularly suggested idea. I have a dream where the Ramsteinians unwaveringly box Russia in for the duration, and Dr Hill and Vlad Vexler come up with a plan to tempt the Russians (with or without Putin) into joining the NON-zero-sum game of the rest of the civilized world? That might just be our best shot at 'the fastest, sort of, happy-like end'.
I disagree with what I detect to be Hill's assumption that the West has/had the power (or responsibility) to "give" Russia a stake in Europe. It's not candy to be handed out to a child. If we didn't push back on Russia's imperialistic values before, well....we are now! And we should continue to push back against Russia by backing Ukraine to the hilt (no pun intended) militarily...for as long as it takes.
Completely agree. That part of the interview was particularly disturbing especially coming from an historian. She should have known the insidious nature of Moscovian-Tataria history through the tsarist era followed by the brutal Soviet times to the current "Federative" state. There was and is nothing commendable or trustworthy of any of those states worth dangling a carrot in front of them.
Please don't say that 'we failed' to do this or that. As if it's our fault that Russia thinks and acts like a feudal empire. It's Russia's choice to behave like a civilized nation or not. THEY have the steering wheel for their country.
Think of it like defensive driving. Anticipating stupidity on the part of other drivers doesn't mean taking responsibility for their driving and it avoids accidents.
Cutting to the basics. It is resources that drive Wars. Ukraine is rich in resource and that’s the real reason for the war. Digital resources are temporary and movable but good grain growing areas are a permanent resource. It strategic location for dominance of warm water Black Sea. Don’t forget this underlying importance.
This would be true if dealing with a state that functioned on a rational economic basis, or in service of its people’s wealth. Russia does neither. So I think these rational arguments based on a western framework make less sense when viewed from a Kremlin lens.
So glad to have discovered Dr Hill for myself. She dispersed my doubts whether the West was competent to read Russia and to counter-react on its vicious moves in East Europe. She is gorgeous.
The USA occupying Europe? Those who believe this absurdity need to see how happy are countries like Poland, the Baltic countries, Romania etc welcoming American forces and American military sites in those countries. American and NATO forces in general represent the security of these countries and a barrier against Russian aggression.
America just attacked an allied country (Germany), destroyed its economically vital energy infrastructure and caused a massive ecological disaster in the Baltic sea.
The America that built the post 1945 world order no longer exists.
It's a fact tho that the USA is occupying Europe, or at least part of it. I was born and raised in Italy and I can tell you that Italian sovereignty is limited based on USA interest, so I have a really hard time to see Russia as my enemy since they never did nothing harmful to Italy
@@paolodandrea4299
You should check the definition of "occupation"...
You should try Russian occupation
You would know the difference .
Washington didn't chose G. Meloni as PM : Italian people elected her...
@@ennediend2865 this might sock you but there isn't any Russian military bases in Italy but there is plenty of US military bases. When it comes to Meloni sure she was elected by Italians but right before the elections that everybody new she was going to win the co-founder of her party Grosetto flew to Washington to assure US that nothing was going to change. If you are aware of Meloni political history you would know that her foreign policy is completely different of her views before becoming PM
“ It's a fact tho that the USA is occupying Europe” What utter crap! Almost everybody in Europe has never personally seen an American military uniform or vehicle. Utter stupid ignorant bilge.
Russia attacks it's neighbours, russifies them, takes away their independence, persecutes its citizens, commits genocide and then wonders why said neigbours don't want a repeat.
Completely agree. Although I'm sure Dr. Hill understands that point, she seems to avoid directly stating that and goes off onto tangents and into nuances about Western diplomatic misplays in dealing with Russia. Poppycock! The interview hit it on the nose at the start of the interview when he said Putin based his expansionist play on MYTHOLOGICAL history. Also the academic failure of Western academicians to clearly state the difference between Rus'-Ukraine and Moscovia-Russia (Rosiya) plays into the Kremlins hand in falsely blending the history of two different territories and definitely time lines.
America showed them how.
@@captain34ca America didn't even exist before the Russian Empire, bub. Try again!
@@captain34ca Yeah all the area the US conquered from canada....
@@captain34ca clown comment
Wow! Fiona Hill none other!! Who will be next on your illustrious list of interviewees?? How do you get all these heavyweights??? This is an *absolute* must watch. Getting out the popcorn right now.
Got another big one at the end of the month 😜
@@SiliconCurtain found your channel few weeks ago. Great insights into Russia and the Ukraine war. Keep up the good work. There’s a good channel with Jake broe , he does almost daily videos about the Ukraine war . He has a lot of viewers . Maybe get contact with him and do an interview. Grow your channel.
Great interview. The best in depth analysis on thy net. Agree 100 % with Dr. Hill. Never bow to sick dictators. Slava Ukraine from Hungary. Glory to the heroes of Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
You are talking about a SLAVIC Commonwealth.
But you cannot do this by force. It takes charm, respect, and friendship. Russia has never shown others in it's orbit respect. Only dominance and force.
Putin may NOT have Ukraine !!! Not any part !!!
" If you give a mouse a cookie..." Appeasement is NOT an option !!
Gold Standard Guest
Yet another amazing guest and discussion. Great stuff.
22:37 “And it really does come down to the fact that Russia, unfortunately, over the last 23 years, has evolved into a system where only one man counts. And it’s gone back to kind of, as you say, to the period of the Czars were we’re now in a kind of succession crisis.”
- Fiona Hill
great observation and a bit concerning to be honest
And this is exactly how this war will end. Putin will die, then succession chaos will and in-fighting will bring about the military collapse.
It’s actually worse- because in tsarist times there were a range of advisors around the tsar, and competing class interests. Today’s Russia has far fewer checks and balances than the Soviet Union even! It’s like the bit in Star Wars when a Sith Lord takes over the republic and kills everyone….
@@SiliconCurtain When Putin dies it’s going to be a mad dash for power and position. I don’t know enough even to guess what may happen next.
At least the Zar did not have nukes in the Eremitage.
@@ulrikschackmeyer848 and there is a chance, in case of a chaotic succession, Iran to get its hands on some of these nuclear weapons.
I think you are both missing the point about Zelenskiy saying Putin is ”nobody”.
Actually, I had to go back to the interview and listen again when I started seeing people saying referring to Zelenskiy saying that Putin is a nobody. That's not what I heard and that's not what he said. Furthermore, I don't think that was due to his lack of command of the English language.
To be clear: Zelenskiy did not say Putin is ”a” nobody.
He switched over to English because he wanted to make it very clear that there would be no one there on the other side of the table for the purpose of a diplomatic conversation and making binding agreements. The chair would be empty, even though a body would be sitting in it. Hence it’s not interesting to even go there.
Of course, Putin is somebody, but the problem for Zelenskiy, in an attempt for diplomatic and constructive negotiations, Putin cannot be trusted in these matters in any way whatsoever. He will always break any agreement, which has been proven time and time again throughout the history of his ever-increasing dictatorial rule.
Absolutely right; he is definitely the 21st Some body; Vladimir Putin will some how, must be persuaded to bring WWW3 to an end; granted immunity from war crimes and allowed to live out his days somewhere; the prospect beckons, that if not the game, is over for us all
This is get, and it’s worth addressing in a future interview. The point I was trying to provoke, was that Yeltsin magicked this sinister character into power practically from nowhere. He was a real nobody, and there were thousands of ex KGB thugs who could have just as easily been picked to be the Putin type figure to fulfil the plans of the KGB and Yeltsin
Thank you so very much for that input. In times of conflict it is of cause impossible to avoid the simple ridiculing of the opponent. But I am strangely uplifted by reading your comment, that Zelinsky, of all psychologically and morally entitled people, nevertheless keeps himself to a higher and more meaningful standard!
You, Dear Lady, are one of the persons making the 'The Comment Fields of RUclips' a 'noteworthwhile' place to visit! One of the 'participating citizens' the original creators of RUclips must have dreamed of.
I have the utmost respect for Dr. Hill, thank you both for doing this interview!
Fiona Hill is a very knowledgeable woman.
A privilege to listen to her.
Yes, a sequel! Dr. Hill is one of the best observers of Russia.
Also, your series is excellent. I enjoy listening to the commentary from your experts. This is RUclips at its best.
@@resrussia 🤡
@@Knucklehead4400 Thank you for your comment. However, you didn't explain why you think Mearscheimer's analysis is better than Hill's.
The Russian economy depended on Europe. Not the other way round. As can be seen in the data. 85% of Russian exports went to Europe. Putin just thought Europe would not care about the annexation of Ukraine. And that it would be easy.
I so enjoyed this interview with Fiona Hill, extremely enlightening. Thank you
It is great
Roger Waters, and others who insist that Russia was provoked, needs to hear this perspective from Fiona Hill and amend their stance.
Dr. Fiona Hill! What a pleasant person! Glad she is on our side.
Big mouths causing trouble is damaging, no matter what side.
We in the west are incredibly lucky and well served..
Fiona is exceptional, intelligent & sincere.
@@alanbrookes6637
Sure is… though I not sure that I like “sincere” …. People can cut off your head will bro g sincerely sorry about it..
How about she’s is straight, open and honest..
@@alanbrookes6637A liberal intent on evangelizing democracy, even when it may not be in a location or at a time in US interests.
This war was avoidable. She missed the signs and misjudged the actions.
Neville Chamberlain was articulate, wise and sincere. Louis XVI was forgiving, educated, generous and weak. Czar Nicholas was reserved and dumb. All were the wrong men at the wrong place at the wrong time. They took the wrong action.
Fiona is that girl.
If you and Fiona have only covered 25% of the questions you were going to ask, when do we get the other 75? Brilliant interview
🤞 I hope to get the chance!
I wonder how things work out if Ukraine allied with North Korea.
@@SiliconCurtain Please tell Dr Hill that we are many who thirst for those deep, thoughtful, (and it at all possible: constructive ) answers!
Your collaboration could really create a new, more solid foundation, make a difference, turning the 'click bait tragedy' of general RUclips, into a sincere popular movement even?
Of course not appeasement, Heaven forbid, but a growing group of people advocating, demanding? even, that this conflict based on 'cross-purpose, BUT APPARENTLY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE worldviews' not ONLY be taken militarily seriously, but ALSO psychologically, philosophically etc (you could ask Vlad Vexler to join in). In order to find a more PERMANENTLY VIABLE solution.
giving Ukraine to the Russians to appease them, reminds me of what we did back in the 30's with the old Bohemia ( Czech Republic ) when we closed our eyes to Adolf's pretensions...just to prevent a war, and we know how well it played out
Fiona is great as always. On Putin as a "history man": he showed this streak just a few years into his presidency, when he had the grave of Anton Denikin, a Russia imperial general, moved back to Russia. He made a point it was funded by his own money.
I love listening to and learning from Dr. Hill and have tremendous respect for her. Congratulations and best wishes to her in her new position as Chancellor of Durham University in northeastern UK. This new appointment will bring her back to the County of her birth, no doubt to be closer to her family. It also must be very gratifying for her to serve as Chancellor at such a historic and prestigious university. For the daughter of a coal miner, Dr. Hill has led an incredible and impressive life. Everyone should remember: Dr. Hill's boss, John Bolton, who was born in the U.S., was un-American, cowardly and cynically motivated to sell more copies of his book when he refused to testify before the U.S. House or Senate in the first impeachment of President Trump over his extortionary telephone call with Ukraine's President Zelinsky. (Why CNN gives John Bolton any air time as some credible, respectable commentator is beyond me; but that has been par for the course for CNN.) Remember also: It was left to John Bolton's underlings, Dr. Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman, both immigrants to the U.S. and both naturalized U.S. citizens, to take the heat (including death threats) and testify truthfully before Congress at great personal cost. So, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Hill for her integrity and courage.
She is correct, the US struggled strongly against entering BOTH the first and second World Wars.
Unfortunately the neocon movement is much more aggressive.
But outside of that, the US did also intervene in the Shah of Iran situation. I view that as our worst misstep. They had a democratically elected leader who hated the United States so the US overturned that government and help install a dictator. A really horrific dictator.
And that was before the neocons.
The US has also been implicated in collapsing currencies. I think World War 1 & 2 changed American leadership to be more interventionist.
Great interview she's articulating my thoughts about all this with putins Russia she's like an agony aunt .. and helps my understanding of global politics, I feel continually incredulous and outraged about russia dragging us all back in time like this ,its truly terrifying and awful.So glad for Silicon curtain and people like Fiona to help us try and make sense it of all.Wonderful ,thankyou!
A real pleasure to watch this, Jonathan, with some very new and interesting snippets of information from Fiona about the Yeltsin/Bush exchanges from the 90s. A very stimulating discussion, too, of the situation in Europe and Russia and the geopolitical perspective from the United States.
You've had a succession of really great guests, excellent conversations and value by the bucket load. I'm not you're how you're managing to be so successful at getting such excellent people to contribute! But really, you're doing a fantastic job. Great to watch. Do keep on with this. Please don't stop!
Think of the advice we give children if they are bullied at school. " tell someone you trust " then when they do nothing happens to the bully especially if teachers don't see it happening. From our simplest social institutions we have little success stopping bullies. The victims are just supposed to youghen up. Sociopaths always know what buttons to push because they study people for vulnerabilities. Intellectuals never understand Sociopaths and think they can persuade with clever arguments. The sociopath never intends to stop trying to meet their own needs and thinks it's funny watching the intellectual seeking a logical solution.
Not many ppl are prepared to call out schools, hidden curiculums , socialisation and tory/conservstive ideology as being the main problem the world faces.
When they spent their whole lives telling people the opposite.
Much respect for Dr. Hill
There are bad people in the world. This is why we need to stop the predators and not go easy on them. Its normal to have compassion for people and to be understanding of their “come from.” But, at the end of the day we must deal with bullies, predators, victimizers despite our compassion.
Thank you. Fiona is fantastic.
Dr Hill is one of my go tos for insight and analysis. Always thoughtful clear.
Between Ukrainian voices describing the cultural and informational realities of the war, and eminent experts like Fiona Hill providing global context, this channel is a very valuable source for understanding the invasion. 🇺🇦
Until the FSB is dug out of the Russian body politic
there is no real hope for meaningful rapprochement with the RF.
Absolutely
You have hit the nail on the head.
I've listened to maybe a dozen Fiona Hill interviews in the past 12 months and I always get something new. Thanks so much for another great discussion.
Please do a sequel, Fiona is one smart, articulate woman with huge insight, experience and appreciation,! An obviously talented analyst who always manages to distil complex issues down to easy, simple explanation.
You only touched on it at the end but I've always viewed Putin the Putrid as a cunning but unsophisticated ruthless conservative thug. To me he seem threatened by the emerging Russian contemporary view of life and wants to return, for safety, to the conservative, "old" world that he knows and feels comfortable with. He likes being an autocratic leader for life, a dictator or tsar. He feels threatened by modern culture, modern democracy, independent thought. He cannot stand Ukraine being an independent country free of subservience to Moscow and worries that the Ukrainian independence example threatens his rule of Russia, essentially the existential threat to Russia that democracy and freedom of thought means.
Please invite Fiona to discuss this aspect.
Excellent podcast, Fiona is one of the best Russia experts out there and is always worth a watch. Keep em coming!
The late Professor Stephen Cohen could have thought Hill a few things about Russia, hill is a Propaganda tool of Washington.
Fiona Hill is a planetary treasure.
Putin is a nineteenth century mind, losing a 20th century war, against a 21st century world.
Great quote!
He definitely miscalculated NATO response, now his ego has him trapped in a costly war that eventually will have Russia conceding defeat. Dr Hill sums him up accurately.
We're very proud of Fiona Hill here in the UK. A very clever & knowledgeable lady who left England for good reason & much bigger opportunities in the US. Girl Done Good! I'm equally glad she may be returning to Britain in some small way, with her connection to Durham University. Great stuff. Putin is toast. Sláva Ukraini!
Dr. Hill, Julia Ioffe, Alexander Vindman... there are so many great voices that provide so many different perspectives on the Russian/Slavic world. Really appreciate Dr. Hill's insight.
Just simply getting guests of this quality is an acheivement itself.Outstanding interview.
Totally aligned with this comment
This woman is a geopolitical celebrity in my book. I don’t know how you scored this interview but it has to be the most valuable yet, by far. God I would love to ask her so many questions.
Fiona will become Chancellor of Durham University next year. My partner works there and I'm really hoping to meet her.
It is not a cultural conflict. Ukraine's value to Russia lies in its natural resources, land, oil, gas and minerals onshore as well as offshore in Sea of Azov and Black Sea.
Just as the English did in invading Scotland, should Russia prevail it will as far as possible clear the 'little Russian' population driving them as refugees to the West or exhiling them to the east per Stalin's example with the Tartars.
With the native population cleared or subjugated, Putin and his cronies will swoop on the spoils.
its a narrative based think tank she represents Raythion and friends....
@@richarddriscoll666 *Raytheon* 😐
Fiona is featured on quite a few other excellent videos as well
I would like to hear someone of Fiona's scholarship and experience speculate upon: a Ukraine 'victory' and what the west needs to do in calibration with the Kremlin to prevent another phase of Russian imperialism. Assuming we get past this phase of imperialism without nuclear disaster? I've heard some commentators estimate 20 million extreme nationalists in Russia, how do we engage constructively to diffuse this cycle of expansion and collapse?
Basically, Russia, post Putin, needs Marshall Plan 2.0. 4eparati9ns and punitive shit may be just and cathartic but it will only beget more misery and tragedy.
I would very much second that motion. I have written likewise, on this channel and elsewhere. But no answer yet. Dr. Hill and perhaps Vlad Vexler could come up with an understandable, philosophically and practically coherent plan that the West could understand and back and Russia could accept and get behind? Never stop believing in miracles!
Remember in Old Italian 'miracle' just meant '(currently) inexplicable' - strictly speaking it never meant 'impossible'.
Well we don't start by permitting those Russian Imperialists to benefit by violence.
Getting what they want out of this war will only convince them that war works.
The nuclear issue is never going to go away. Treating Russia softly because we are too afraid is only delaying the issue.
Europe let Hitler get away with invading his neighbours, because they were afraid of another WW1..... and they got WW2.
It is only by demonstrating conclusively that war does not "work" do we knock the props out from under the warmongers.
@@angusmatheson8906 ... Keep in mind that there was considerable foreign capital injected into Russia after the Soviet collapse. It failed due to corruption on a grand scale. Putin is a multi-billionaire on a wage of about $150k per year.
Private companies were just as much targets for invasion and looting as neighbouring nations.
That would have to change.
Intelligent, insightful pragmatism! A sequel would be wonderful.
Dr Hill's clarity and expertise are a guiding light , great to see her on your wonderful channel
Thank you, Dr. Hill and Mr. Fink for this presentation.
Thank for the podcast Jonathan! I love the calm and to-the-point style of yours. Oh and thanks for Fiona for sharing her thoughts!
The geniuses at the IOC and FIBA gave him the Olympics and the World Cup. Nobody flinched when he plundered and stole Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea and Central Asia. He strutted around the world stage for nearly a decade as though he actually belonged. He doesn't. He is the epitome of delusional. Keep the pressure on relentlessly. He'll choke.
He was an officer in KGB in East Berlin. IMO it was Merkell who gave him a world presence and acceptability. She feted him, others followed as she positioned herself as the 'leader" of the rest in the EU. Friendly. Approachable. Welcoming. I think she's pulled the wool over everyones eyes. She's now not seen or heard of.
Putin was an officer in KGB in East Berlin. IMO it was Merkell who gave him a world presence and acceptability. She feted him, others followed as she positioned herself as the 'leader" of the rest in the EU. Friendly. Approachable. Welcoming. I think she's pulled the wool over everyones eyes. She's now not seen or heard of. She got all her energy from Russia. Blind faith. Either she was hood winked like others or they colluded to hood wink the lot together!!
It seems that distorted nostalgia is a particular insanity that makes older individuals think they must make their national groups “ great again”. Definitely delusional dreams of sick grandeur. They re-remember and remake how it was and of course edit out those who suffered or at the very least didn’t prosper…and the most important thing in common is that always an “ other” is found to blame!
Amazing, thank you. A wonderful conversation
Dear Jonathan. Thank you VERY much, for making new questions that go a layer deeper. I mean listening to Dr Hill is ALWAYS fascinating, even when it is 'the same old questions', but this time was even more brilliant! And thanks a lot for your long format contributions. You really contribute with a lot of insight.
Two points beyond that.
One nitty little presentation detail. When you read aloud, or check a question or argument, you lower your eyes JUST enough to break you otherwise quite acceptable line of sight with the interviewer. To me it breaks the feeling of your otherwise inspiring presence! I'm not a tech nerd, so I can't tell you HOW to fix it, but an improvement would make it a lot easier for me to focus on your brilliant content.
Secondly, like many other, I hope for, and would like to hear about WHAT could 'a relatively as happy as possible end' be? Or a reasonable road there? I mean if we assume the the West cannot, or will not risk, bringing a STUNDE NULL (the complete Nazi breakdown realised by all Germans) to the Russians/Putin, how COULD one persuade the Russians or their leadership (be it Putin or not) to get out of their traumatic, 'old-fashioned' (for want of a better term) look on the West or indeed the World and into the growth and prosperity of a NON-zero-sum-future?
I allow myself to believe in a brighter future for a non-imperial Russia. Because, as a Dane, we've experienced being a superpower (of our known world) through several periods in history: the Vikings, the North Sea Mare Nostrum of King Canute the Great, the Baltic Mare Nostrum of King Valdemar the Victorious, the Danish lead Kalmar Union (Europe's largest country pre-Columbus), the world third largest fleet at times in 16-1700's.
Never the less we've (almost voluntarily) given up on world dominance. And today Denmark (along with our Scandinavian 'partners') is regulally scored among the most prosperous nations on Earth. And hailed as democratic paragons!
In English textbooks of 'development of national economy' there is a phrase in the how-to chapters called 'Getting to Denmark' . In French textbooks it's called ' La methode Suedoise'.
And we are regularly scored as the happiest! So it IS possible to be rich and happy, post-imperial-dreams. Just saying.
Sorry about the rant, not completely without national pride, but I felt that it HAD to be solid, convincing AND proud to be appealing to Russians. As I understand it, is that not what Russia wants for herself?
Extremely illuminating insights from Dr Fiona Hill in conversation with Jonathan. Quite brilliant. Many thanks.
Sequel please!!! Can’t get enough of these two.
One should not forget that Russia is not an economical viable entity!
When the American Midwest opened up with railroads the incredibly fertile - basically - grass plains were more than excellent for producing grain. This meant that the USA after the civil war was producing grain etc. at a price nobody could compete with. That hurt Russia with a sledge hammer: Now they could not export grain - simply because they could not compete with the pricing of American grain. Stalin tried to rationalize the agricultural sector in Russia - with some success at the huge cost of depopulating Russia. Russia collapsed in WW1, not because there was a shortage of food, but because there was an abundance.
Now the same pattern repeats itself. The world is not going to run out of oil or energy. Germany ran out of coal; but generally there is LOTS of coal. There is lots of oil/gas - lots - especially in the USA. Europe is not going to pay the paracites in the oil producing states forever - just look at Ve, but tnezuela. A lot will be through more efficient use of energy. Just try to imagine the fuel burn pr. seat mile of the Super Constellation of Howard Hughes fame - and then relate it to the fuel economy of an Airbus.
Export of natural gas is mainly a waste disposal problem.
The problem is that Russia CANNOT produce oil and gas to a competitive price - especially not if they have to pay for the expensive toys of the oligarks - the oligarks are generally comparable to the sychophants sourrounding the zar.
The problem with the Ukraine-Russia war is: There will be no Russia left - the economic model of communism did not work then - it won't work now. As it is: Russias economy is the size of Spains. What Russia and Putin thinks and opines is irrelevant. Saudi Arabia is a large country, but most of it is desert. Russia is a large country populated by kindling. It took about 50 years before the greatest meteor impact (Tunguska event) was even found out. Early on it was known that something had happened, but where and what was swallowed in Russian quackmire. Russia does not have a role to play in the modern world.
The Sovjet empire collapsed with the fall of the Berlin wall, Russia will once again collapse, as if anyone expected that disaster to go away unnoticed, they were wrong. The most likely outcome will be a series of civil wars in Russia.
China will step in to manage the situation. Xi is smiling in Putin's face.
A very inconsequential observation: Fiona Hill has my favorite British accent. Very soothing. I know she has said her Northern England accent was a negative back home. I love it.
BTW Putin uses the same arguments as the Fuhrer's Anschluss.
if Russian wants to stop so called America’n control, Putin should get rid of ALL brand companies in the country. No Coke. No iPhones. No jeans. No everything! It’s not American political control, it’s the lifestyle that everyone wants.
Remove all that and what do you have left? When I visited Poland in 1979, people followed me and offered money for the jeans I was wearing! They didn’t want the Canadian political structure - they just wanted stuff! So remove the lifestyle, and you would end up with a medieval society. Everyone everywhere want stuff. Simple as that!
Not only is her viewpoint one of the most astute and accurate on Putin but her northern accent is perhaps my favorite in the English language !
I know right! I’ve got a huge intellectual crush on her! 😍
Yep. If you don't want your neighbors joining a defensive alliance, STOP INVADING YOUR NEIGHBORS.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the French-speaking majority of Quebec finally came of age and took its rightful place as an independent 'nation' within Canada. I was born in this Quebec, as part of the 10% English-speaking minority. Over a span of a decade, we saw many of our linguistic rights diminished, leading to the limiting of our ability to maintain our size and influence through the education system. Though there were some tense periods with scattered acts of violent protest and political kidnappings, the 'two solitudes' have come to a mutual understanding, and now our issues are being handled exclusively within the political sphere. I'm pointing this out in order to draw a certain parallel between the English-speaking minority in Quebec and the Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. Any and all disagreements with regard to language and culture are always best solved through discussion, mutual respect, and an exchange of creative ideas that lead to solutions. Back in 1977, we didn't want the UK or the US to come in and take over our territory in order to preserve our culture, language and way of life. We settled things internally. That's what I would have expected in Ukraine. What has happened since that fateful day of Feb 24, 2022, is beyond unfortunate, and the violence is senseless.
The point you make, is that there was a reasonable alternative, which means that Putin's war was not a "last resort" and is thereby unjustified.
@@peterwebb8732 Another brain dead moron spews western lies. Google the Minsk agreements and check how Merkel, Orland and the former President of Ukraine boasted that their support for these agreements was just a lie to build Ukraine's military to fight Russia.
What a BEAUTIFUL discussion guys. Lovely nuance, deft examination of structure, the corrupting framing of policy based on limit personal perceptions. Prompt and illuminating examination of structures of both society and THOUGHT itself over decades. You point us all to the vital truism that ALL OF US, and especially public figures must be cautious of our private frame of understanding, and we all must be willing to change and grow. Thanks, both of you. Good health to both of you and may the glorious non event of peace settle on all of us.
Beautiful. I could not have put it better myself. Peace upon you, Brother.
Great interview and debate you understand each other so well its precious!!! More please🙏
Thank you Dr. Fiona Hill for this and all your prior works, testomonies and analyses!
This one was phenomenal. Keep at it, I wanna see this channel grow
Slava Ukraïni
♥️Fiona!!♥️
The west should have stood up immediately when Russia was starting this. It is the same with China.
We have, in each case, failed to sew that stitch that would have kept the sweater (the peace) from coming unraveled.
Dictators must know for certain that if they misbehave they will take an immediate serious consequence
and zero benefit.
Don Hansen
Unfortunately not an option for a democratic leader. If the West is being blamed even by many of it's own citizens for the war now, can you imagine how much more strident that blame would be if earlier action were taken?
I always enjoy listening to Dr. Hill!
Fiona Hill is a bright, intelligent spot in the media-news world. Thanks to Fiona Hill we learn lots about our world.
Great Podcast as always. Fiona is a great guest 💗
Really happy to see that Fiona is no longer concerned about Putins offramp like she was at the beginning of all this. I really thought she was a useful fool intellectual at that point.
It's always hard to know how much depends on the questions raised by journalists and others.
We can guess that she at that time, a year ago, said just the same as virtually everyone in her circles of academics and analysts at the Brookings Institution, Georgetown University, and so on.
They seemed a little dizzy, and had probably expected the Europeans to handle Ukraine and Russia on their own.
Now they've had a whole year to concentrate on this crisis and on Russia.
Congrats on having Fiona Hill on your show, she is a well respected mind on global politics.
Interesting how she mentioned Turkey and their 1974 Cyprus invasion... I was with the 34th MAU (USMC) on a special naval gunfire liaison team (basically forward observers) and although not in the history books, when the Turks began probing the perimeter of the British base, a game of chicken started ruclips.net/video/lOa9Sg1hZs0/видео.html and as part of the chess game, I was at the tip of the spear that let the Turks know they should NOT overrun the Brits... And yes, I got to hear that life defining Pfffft by my head like in the video... And so, the Turks did NOT over run the base and went around... So, I'm quite familiar with Geopolitics...at the sharp end, right on the tip...
Accidental Czar, leading an accidental war.
"Vladimir the Unfortunate"
I want to add my gratitude to that of others for your bringing Dr. Hill into your vlog. Its was so enlightening and engaging.
Fantastic interview. Dr. Hill is a national treasure. "Putin provoked himself" what a quote. I hope there is a sequel!
Which nation?
@@Paulus8765 I'm claiming her for the USA, of course!
@@deeglloyd Unfair - I claim her for Northumbria.
@@Paulus8765 Well, you _did_ have her first. 😏👍
It’s significant that Dr Hill said that as a female, a working class female and a working class female with a northern accent - she knew that she could never have the career she wanted, (specialising in Russia) in a UK context. She knew she would all the time be defined by Britain’s toxic nexus of public-schoolboy sexism and classism. This is why she said she leaped at the chance of American postgrad work, career and citizenship.
Great job by Jonathan to research the guest interviews and look for new angles rather than carbon copy rehashes of interesting answers.
A highlight was on the regression to "the political sophistication of a Viking fiefdom", it seemed to amuse Fiona.
Fiona's appraisal of the complexity of causes and the mutual incomprehension that has lead to the tragedy was in-depth challenging but clear. The discomfort of hearing such appraisals without the comfort of obvious remedies is significant.
Choosing the lesser of evils is always hard.
Glad you said this - I keep all the questions I’ve every asked, and try to vary the angles in each interview. This also means the channel will have to diversify to cover China, turkey, Africa, Middle East and India soon…
Glad Jonathan wants to diversify towards India. Looking very much forward to seeing that. Great insights gained today. Thank you Mrs Hill.
@@SiliconCurtain, I love that as a future perspective. The World!
And perhaps that might bring you to the BRILLIANT Maria Ressa? I have been thinking of suggesting her for a while, as a person with profound perspectives on democracy and dictatorship.
@@SiliconCurtain I know many of your viewers , myself included, would really value you covering those areas as well! Your guests are always interesting and your questions always insightful. We appreciate your style of conversation that highlights such a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. You've got me hooked!!
@@SiliconCurtainthe effort you put in is what kept me coming back, after the first interview I saw.
It took a while but the subs have grown significantly now, you have a valuable archive 😁
Excellent , even though your interviews are usually an hour long, they are too short, thank you.
We were pushed for time - but this means hopefully there will be a part 2 🤞
I listened at 2.5 speed, and it was a short interview.
I listened to Fiona's Mr. Putin, from the the library, at 1.55 speed. It still was a long book. But it had a few essential points that I am glad I got to hear.
I thought it was written by one economist, but I missed her name on the title.
Yeah I keep encountering people online who are just convinced by spheres of influence being how things are. If you tell them that it's robbing agency from people and it's somewhat magical thinking, they do not respond well.
Dr. Hill is spot on on so many things. Yet, I think she overlooks the benefits of simplifying things. There are some fundamentals we should keep in mind.
First, we cannot change Russia either by force or by persuasion. We sure won't be able to change their worldview through negotiations or by trying to lecture about our ways to them. So, we should assume they will remain the same.
That being the case, the only way to stop the war is to give Ukraine the tools it needs to defeat Russia in the battlefield.
Even Russian defeat will be a temporary. Russia remains the same. The only long term solution is to accept Ukraine (and potentially Georgia & Moldova) into NATO.
After that, Russia has nowhere to expand. If we also keep up the sanctions regime, they will have hard time building up their military power again.
Then we'll wait. Patiently. Decades. Maybe even centuries. At some point Russians will change their system, or The Russian Federation will collapse. Until then, only a strong western military power - and readiness to use it - will keep them at bay.
I don't see how more nuanced or complex considerations could change these fundamentals.
Very grim prospects, indeed. That would be 'beating Russia on Russia's own terms'. But I fear that in the end you may turn out to be right.
However, I sure that you will allow the rest of us trying to figure out various 'seemingly miraculous' ways to see if the 'stalemate of mutual suffering' can be shortened.
@@ulrikschackmeyer848 To be frank, I did not even paint the most pessimistic possible future. Imagine what will happen if Russia won't be defeated in Ukraine and it is able to rebuild it's military. Ukraine won't be Russia's last victim in that case.
Anyhow, I do hope someone will come up with a way(s) to ensure more optimistic future. I'd be very glad to be proven wrong.
I very much agree with your assessment as that's how i too see it. Cornering a wounded, injured & aggressive animal is dangerous (as i believe Pootin may have analogized something in past speeches and such) but for the foreseeable i don't see any other way. Even now they're trying to make alliances in places like Africa to keep "The West", etc. off balance and sadly they accept it either due to historical reasons or monetary payments, but i don't see Russia helping the development of these places it appears more just offering weapons and fuel and occasionally food (likely stolen from Ukraine) so basically _feeding_ the corrupt govs of the world, whereas China looks to do it better by seemingly offering development in order to extract the resources of these places while Europe kinda dithers about. And this is the thing, the US was slowly drawing-down it's European forces in order to pivot to Asia and most thought that was where the next big conflict was to emerge which likely added to the Kremlin's calculations to go for it now.
It has been a rude awakening for the EU - Europe as a whole - and other 'Western'-aligned nations whom seemed to had closed their eyes and crossed their fingers with a "nah, it'll be fine" attitude, now likely they're going have to increase military spending towards the old Cold War levels to bolster against a re-asserting Russia (which would no doubt please the US to ease their strain as they want to look to the Asia-Pacific) and decide what connections they want with other nations of the world to lessen the influence (corruption?) of Russia & China and be potentially left behind in the resource acquisition game.
As Russia seeks alliance es around the world and in Africa. I wonder how much the West regret destabilising S Africa and handing it on a plate to the ANC. At the very least, the previous government sought to quell Russia and keep them away from the borders and the rich resources found there in!!!!!!
Great interview, but I do have to say that I really believe that everyone (experts included) give too much credit to Putin. He was born to poverty and is uneducated except for his skills learned during his time in office and FSB. He lives in the past because he is uneducated and doesn't have the intellect to judge world events. Right or wrong, I really believe this. 🇨🇦
He not a smart man - or an original thinker. In past years he was very verbally dextrous - I.e able to talk very fluently. But there not much substance to his thought, and I believe he understands nothing at all about economics or how complex, post-industrial societies work…
This was fantastic. Horrific but explained so well. So grateful for Fiona Hill!
What a coup! The great Fiona Hill so knowledgeable and interesting. Please do speak to her again if you can.
She has been a guest on many other channels. Bbc4 too
She'd make a fantastic president,so smart
In a sense, most western nations have always been within imperial formations, with the exception of only a few years. Most of Europe went from having colonies, to joining the EU. But these almost post-modern imperial blocs were predominantly economic and cultural. America presides over North America, but only loosely through treaties, diplomacy, cross border ties and shared governance. The difference is multilateralism versus militarism. Ukraine and Russia should have a similar relationship as America and Canada. Yet the moment violence was selected, that option was foreclosed.
Thank You so much Jonathan for posting this interview with Dr.Fiona Hill whose lucid analysis of a predicament that has enmeshed all whether we like it or not, it is like a tiny beacon from afar, shining into my consciousness, from a very dark place. I look forward to the next time you speak with her and those of her calibre and integrity.
Beautifully put. I second that.
As much as there are amazing guests, the host has an amazing voice and a way of speaking. My ears are smitten 🥰
😝 I actually can’t hear my voice back on recordings - I hate the sound of it!
@@SiliconCurtain That's human!
A trait shared by many.
I love these - and the frequency of new episodes is mindblowing.
It’s also tiring!!! All done on top of a full day job and family commitments… 🤪
Absolutely 👍👍👍
Only Russia is the threat!
But a dictator will always need a reason...
Giving too much credit to Putin for thinking, he thought he could get away with invading Ukraine as they totally underestimated the Ukrainian defence, he didn't at this stage care about the West as he thought it would be a short war and he would strongarm Germany to keep having the gas (Which would have been correct). When the West saw that Ukraine was able to defend itself it supplied defensive weapons that made his position worse and he has just made up stories and lies to try and splinter the West, I don't think he believes a word of it, it's just to achieve his aims. It is correct that he has been the leader for too long, like Xi. The United Kingdom trials and tribulations etc. are not going to go nuclear anytime soon, so it's a domestic - Yawn!?!
Dr. Hill 100%
Fiona Hill is my hero. Her perspective is unequalled. Thank you for the brilliant insights by both participants. A psychoanalyst’s view of puny Vlad would also be fascinating.
My very thought, and regularly suggested idea. I have a dream where the Ramsteinians unwaveringly box Russia in for the duration, and Dr Hill and Vlad Vexler come up with a plan to tempt the Russians (with or without Putin) into joining the NON-zero-sum game of the rest of the civilized world? That might just be our best shot at 'the fastest, sort of, happy-like end'.
Fiona Hill has been raising the Putin warnings forever. Not many were listening.
I disagree with what I detect to be Hill's assumption that the West has/had the power (or responsibility) to "give" Russia a stake in Europe. It's not candy to be handed out to a child.
If we didn't push back on Russia's imperialistic values before, well....we are now! And we should continue to push back against Russia by backing Ukraine to the hilt (no pun intended) militarily...for as long as it takes.
Completely agree. That part of the interview was particularly disturbing especially coming from an historian. She should have known the insidious nature of Moscovian-Tataria history through the tsarist era followed by the brutal Soviet times to the current "Federative" state. There was and is nothing commendable or trustworthy of any of those states worth dangling a carrot in front of them.
Come on Lavrov, gonna blow yo jowls off!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Fiona Hill makes this middle aged woman fangirl like a teenage Beatlemaniac :) She's AWESOME!
She's a local (though admittedly obscure) celebrity for me (Co. Durham), with a modest yet well-earned profile. Great interview Fiona!
Please don't say that 'we failed' to do this or that. As if it's our fault that Russia thinks and acts like a feudal empire. It's Russia's choice to behave like a civilized nation or not. THEY have the steering wheel for their country.
Think of it like defensive driving. Anticipating stupidity on the part of other drivers doesn't mean taking responsibility for their driving and it avoids accidents.
Excellent. Thank you.
🇺🇦
Cutting to the basics. It is resources that drive Wars. Ukraine is rich in resource and that’s the real reason for the war. Digital resources are temporary and movable but good grain growing areas are a permanent resource. It strategic location for dominance of warm water Black Sea. Don’t forget this underlying importance.
This would be true if dealing with a state that functioned on a rational economic basis, or in service of its people’s wealth. Russia does neither. So I think these rational arguments based on a western framework make less sense when viewed from a Kremlin lens.
So glad to have discovered Dr Hill for myself. She dispersed my doubts whether the West was competent to read Russia and to counter-react on its vicious moves in East Europe. She is gorgeous.