Ask Prof Wolff: What Europe Got Wrong about Sanctions on Russia

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A Patron of Democracy at Work asks: "Why, in your opinion, did European countries go along with the USA on sanctions on Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year? Did European leaders miscalculate negative impacts that these sanctions will have on Europe or counted on some benefits that will be worth the losses? Are any benefits present?"
This is Professor Richard Wolff's video response.
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[@truthseeker8894]

And as a citizen of Finland I am thinking - what have our stupid politicians done??? We should have stayed a neutral country not joining NATO. 😢

[@afie8894]

There is where the money is...by joining nato,,,, those politician will get the money to stay in power They will not think for the best of the people , they only think the best for their own pocket and benefit

[@afie8894]

Good luck for the people in Finland

[@jgarbo3541]

Demand your next PM not use cocaine before breakfast.

[@ritarossi1805]

Non siete soli... ditemi dove si nasconderà la premier Meloni quando andando in giro per il mondo..."temere loqui".. incontrerà la Costituzione italiana e suo figlio. ( negletto ) l"art.11???

[@reyteeuniversalvlogs1154]

You right. I also met a Sweden civilian, they as civilians do not want to join NATO, it put you automatically in conflict and imminent danger as opposed when you stay out of it by being neutral. Politicians have a mental syndrome, power and greedy over powers them.

[@michaelparris5399]

Europe thought they could pivot to Africa but Africa had already pivoted to China

[@evelynread3156]

Russia has been expecting this for years. They were prepared for this exact moment.

[@louise_rose]

Certainly much better prepared than NATO, yes. Also, I think NATO were fooled to some extent by the enthusiasm and will to deliver all the right answers among the Ukrainian "new elite" the West has been training over the last ten years. It must have made the Americans and west Europeans think "yes, these guys are going to make it! They're able to defeat the Russians if we'll just give them the right equipment!".

[@tschoong3897]

Yes, Professor, you are right. Europe thought that Russia would collapse and Europe will be sharing big chunks of the collapsed country's resources and wealth with the US. Unfortunately it did not turn out as always in the past, and instead today Europe is losing its competitive edge in the world and would have to struggle day by day to make a living.

[@ritarossi1805]

From christian catholics crusades against Nevsky 's christian orthodox russian people to New crusades ( AMERICA EU Israel vatican). Against putin's Cristian orthodox COMUNIST RUSSIAN PEOPLE nothing Is changed.....

[@lukebandolino882]

>"Europe thought that Russia would collapse" Take a look at other sanctioned countries, which are smaller and poorer than Russia: Cuba, North Korea, Iran. These countries were SANCTIONED FOR DECADES, and they did not collapse: Fidel Castro remained in power for 50 years in Cuba; the ayatollahs remained in power in Iran; the Kim family remained in power in N. Korea. No politician could have believed that Russia was going to collapse in 1 year, because of sanctions.

[@mariaadelecagna3540]

Europe acted stupidly and Now they get what they wanted from the west and Europe was really stupid...

[@andreycham4797]

Russia did not collapse in 90th of last century and it had not any reason to collapse under new sanctions since Russians have been under western sanctions over more than last 100 years and they had over 500 billions in reserves .He is pushing propaganda on you to make you believe that it was a mistake but puppets can not make mistakes they do what a master makes them to do

[@hkiani6853]

Only Sub servant European politician would have thought Russia, will fall a part, and Glory to NATO. They certainly under estimated Russian friends, all the Countries under USA, and Europe sanction. All the Countries that trying to get rid of DOLLAR from their trade, All the countries that have seen enough of Hypocracy and war machine of the West.

[@hafifi57]

I have the same question, why Europe is aligned blindly with the United States despite the widespread political corruptions, violence, and ignorance !!

[@etbuch4873]

Because birds of a feather flock together. And the corrupted, the violent, and the ignorant tend to flock together, too.

[@balalajkeaccordeone4711]

for same reason as cancelor sholze pretend he doesnt know who crashed nord stream. pure terroristic attack on his country - and he has no reaction

[@JanWasp]

European elites are naive and/or cowardly, it really is that simple. If they had refused Bush in 2008 in promising Ukraine and Georgia that they would be accepted into NATO, the war wouldn´t have happened!

[@luckmanyo5130]

Because if you not the puppet, you're are the enemy. Coupled with short term interest and mass media, government with 40-50% popular vote easily toppled over. Latest example is new Zealand leader ousted

[@oliviasukamto947]

Whenever the yank poops the euros scream DINNER . More pls !

[@ujin981]

Europe has been in denial for over a century now not having what it takes to admit that the US manipulates European politics to its advantage at the expense of the hard working European folk.

[@skp8748]

France is literally the only country that has even attempted not bend over and smile... But France without a soverign Germany is hamstrung

[@Camcolito]

You think the hard working European folk run Europe?

[@chloeprice5418]

Europe think they're cooler than USA. Delusional

[@plau2007]

Putin wanted the empire back. They asked NATO out of Eastern Europe and US army out of Europe.

[@scalarnai]

Europe has lost its marbles and sadly are vassals to the US

[@redemissarium]

sanctioning isolated Russia is like stop talking to an introvert people, they feels nothing at all😅

[@Dare2Blink]

Great contribution Prof Wolf but I think you missed two very important contributing factors to the backfiring of the sanctions: The first one is this Russia has been preparing on many levels against sanctions by creating their own financial system independent from SWIFT, as well as becoming self sufficient in virtually all technological aspects. Russia had been under sanctions for a very long time and knew there was a sting possibility that even bigger sanction were on the way. The second big miscalculation was to trust the almost meaningless GDP measuring system that can easily be manipulated and inflated by adding factors that actually don't contribute to economy or output of any country. What really matters are 3 things: energy independence, having a highly qualified population and having a strong industrial base. Russia has all three and therefore could sustain any sanctions even without their allies in Asia (which definitely helped I'm not discounting that)

[@freefree1219]

The main factor is naivety of Europe to think sanctions can crush Russia. As examples, North Korea and Iran are sanctioned for 20+ years and counting. The don't have the favourable factors and they're still not crushed. However for US the war does serve the purpose to distooth Russia and Europe so that they are no more a challenge to US. For Europe this is a stupid war to get involved, losing a lot economically, significantly increased security risks for no good reason, and have a huge drag in future growth.

[@truthseeker8894]

Finland for example is loosing 500-600 millions euro per year because of these stupid sanctions. That's a lot of money for a small country like Finland but peanuts to Russia. We are shooting ourselves in the foot for believing in these stupid sanctions.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Cuba has been under sanctions for over 60 years and it has not been crushed either.@@freefree1219

[@cpx9707]

China, India and the global south will not care NATO sanctions Russia. We know who the real trouble makers are. It is definitely not Russia.

[@tutotutot5193]

as an african i am amazed at how much racism is entrenched in the western world that you can say so much and not mention africa at all, we have so much oil and gas but we need longterm contracts but they are refusing to sign. europeans want it all for free. todays professors are such a let down. germany came here wanted oil and gas we were all willing to supply but they wanted short term contracts and ended up signing the same longterm contract with qatar, they couldnt imagine enriching an african country. worth mentioning i think

[@b3drasse885]

Africa is 1.3billion people, why don't we first think of trading among ourselves, Africa is importing oil from Russia, Saudi Arabia when we have Angola, Nigeria , Libya.

[@NoRockinMansLand]

Bro this video isn't even about Africa so I'm not expecting him to speak about it

[@tutotutot5193]

@@NoRockinMansLand you missed the point completely.....

[@grahamt5924]

Do you work in the oil industry?

[@GreaseWood-px4gk]

Africa must do what's best for Africa! Let Germany sink in the toilet! I am a native American from a reservation in Arizona, racism is the American way! We no longer have our land but Africa has everything to surpass the world! 💙💚💛

[@robertbennett9949]

Thank you for your valuable video. In my opinion, the US NATO trapped Russia into war in Donbass by pretending to support the Minsk Agreements, while at the same time arming the Ukraine regime to NATO standard. Russia was expected to disentegrate after President Putin was deposed. Then there would be a scramble for Russian resourses by the EU and US similar to the 1880's colonial Scramble for Africa. They envisaged an area from the Dniper River right thru the component states of the former Soviet Union to the border of China. But, Russia has not collapsed. Now, the threat to the EU NATO is that a new polarity is being established by BRIC countries. It it something to look forward to.

[@philiphoactuallyitstartedb3457]

Well said

[@hassanharith6820]

. . ." & The Country / Countries Applying for the Brics."

[@loveblindhate9318]

Nice to see someone understands geopolitics...

[@VoloGeddarm]

So they trained ukraine to NATO standards and then predicted if russia invades, kiev would fall within days? Ok dumbo. And if the BRICS countries hate the west so much, let's see how much they will like their new chinese overlords. Third, none of those countries have a stable goverment or a proper democracy - lets see how long the chinese investments last. P.S. read up on Sri Lanka, donkey

[@user-wk5gp8pw8e]

Exactly.

[@Vantageman225]

It puzzles me to realise that the economic growth of Russia in the last 12 months is bigger than that of many European countries despite all the sanctions against Russia.

[@felixbruette4793]

Since the days before Rome, commerce requires peace and stability. What is war without profit?

[@Rubinrus]

Russia took over the western assets within itself. They had a choice either to continue doing business, either sell it to someone for cheap (sometimes as cheap as 1 Ruble). If you just close it - they can get seized. They still can get it back afterwards, but the technology is already something that would stay in Russian businessmen' hands. Either way, with giants out of the market, some new locally produced stuff does stand a chance now (the most obvious example - coca cola. If before sanctions there was only coca and pepsi, now there are a few dozens, including old brands returning). This way Russia did manage to boost it's economy by seizing low-mid tech production, however, high tech is out of the reach, since it wasn't produced there. Basically they've exchanged potential technological advance for an instant economy boost. Importing high-tech & state-of-art tech would be incredibly hard & expensive. The collapse won't happen due to a fact that one of the few main lessons of USSR experiment was learnt - always produce more food & water than you can consume. As long as those are present and government has the means of controlling their prices (and Russia does have as a remnant of a plan economy), the nation wouldn't fall. Food, drinking water and electricity is a triad of must-have resources and Russia does have an abundance of them.

[@reedOsama]

Wtf, you're straight up lying and people believe this shit? Russia's economy has done terribly in the past 12 months

[@genelarson6849]

​@@felixbruette4793who says Russia has economic growth where did this fact come from? I know the Kremlin

[@felixbruette4793]

@@genelarson6849 you have been sleeping on the job, your fears are not mine of Russia economic progress. It is the same with China and India. Americans got lazy become arrogant, by the policy of America. Commerce by military intervention 😁😄

[@JanWasp]

Professor Wolff, thank you so much for coming out and explaining quite clearly and bluntly what exactly is wrong with our European leaders. As yet, we don´t know when they will realise what they´ve done wrong, and work out how to get us out of this mess, yet there is a glimmer of hope when individuals such as yourself discuss issues in the open. We can disseminate this information, then people will start talking about it and it will make a difference.

[@HM-hu4hu]

Wolff is a fascist, imperialist propagandist at this point.

[@J.M.254]

Europe and the West, have never integrated Africa, Asia and the Pacific block into their system. These areas were always exploited by them. They ignored the better way of living equally. Now we see the backlash and it's moving rapidly.

[@ritarossi1805]

Gli americani sono colonizzatori da insediamento figli derelitti dei poveri europei.... quindi NATO e USA stesse radici guerrafondaie...

[@iitzkryy9599]

Imagine Russia builds a "defensive block" like NATO, from Columbia all up to Mexiko. I would love to see the U.S. reactions 😂

[@johnwright8814]

That could happen, if they all join BRICS. By that time the USA would be powerless to act, too busy propping up the dollar.

[@1freeze229]

1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

[@iitzkryy9599]

@1 Freeze I know. I'm talking all countries, from Columbia to mexiko. the boarder to mexiko is on land, and twice as big. back then, they handled it perfectly.

[@janicedelacruzjian8105]

I’m looking forward to a multi polar world goodbye Uncle Sam 😂😂😂

[@Sagbotgamot]

That's the Unipolar world thinking Russia and China is doing without it.

[@thetruthinquirer]

Prof. I am convince China is on the moved on the same track as you have mentioned. Xi said to Putin at the doorstep of Kremlin, "Right now there are changes that we haven't seen for 100 years, we will be the ones driving the changes together". And Putin Agrees....With China's Road Map and Russian Muscles its not going to be difficult to get things done.

[@KayyHong]

China's goal is the dismantling of a Unipolar World where one country dictates to all and replace it with a Multi-Polar World where all countries have a say in and input in "International Laws."

[@HM-hu4hu]

Russian muscles? 🤣 Russia and China are both headed towards demographic collapse.

[@kobked-x]

Agreed. RIP American hegemony

[@HM-hu4hu]

@@kobked-x RIP China and Russia. Demographic collapse coming up.

[@edmundtumaca2334]

Billions of money are wasted by US and Western countries for this war and it will Not take that much to promote peace. That amount of money should be used for building economy. Are western leaders all idiots? Can't read the evil and selfish intention of the US. Their economy is destroyed. They pretend to be wise but are foolish they thought they are strong but found to be weak. Pity to your children and your children's children. What would be the future of your country. 😢

[@robertoalcala1105]

As a European, I agree with everything he says in this video. Europe is now being charged for all the years it piggybacked on NATO with little economic effort. USA is now trying to rip apart Europe for its own benefit and to avoid a strong economic union between Europe and Russia that won't happen. There is censorship subtly taking place in Europe and journalists who speak against the norm are brought to court. Thanks for sharing this great analysis from Richard Wofff in the USA.

[@The_First_Sean]

One day you will be turned into slaves and pay for your past, your mom, sister daughter will be sex slaves, get ready for it😊

[@gabrielaelizabeth8349]

I am german, living in Greece . This Question of european following so closely the NATO US " politics '" is very urgent to me. I dodn t understand al those german " Politicians " at all. Thanks a lot to Mr Wolff

[@petroskyrillos]

I live for some time in Poland and what I can say is that we were previously under Russian occupation and today nothing is changed we are still under occupation but it's different hegemon. Our government is no longer the Polish government, just like our mainstream media is no longer polish. All of them were taken over by foreign corporations. Our internal and external services in the country are controlled by the CIA and other powers. What the Polish government does today is written in the Pentagon and Washington and they only read it from cards. People who are brave and are not afraid to say that this is not our war, but the hegemon's war with Russia, to destroy the new Chinese silk route, and thus destroy the EU economically, to weaken Russia and Germany will lose their jobs and may destroy their careers. As recently Prof. Leszek Sykulski dismissed from the university he was teaching there. Once the west was so proud of the freedom of speech we have here and now there is a narrative that they do it for our good by limiting what we can read and hear here. That's why it is what it is. I also see fear in my immediate family, so what can be done in such a country and change something for better. The war will last as long as it is possible to the last Ukrainian and perhaps they try to push our people to the battle. This is because the apparatus of the hegemon's armaments industry has not made so much money on any other war for a long time. They have the best minds trained in psychology and what they do it's exploitation of tribal fears and differences in cultures and faiths and history of the land. They mustered it to the perfection. As long as it takes without American soldiers with hands of other people. I am terrified of what I see here after years of living abroad. Also the blindness of these people here.

[@ddbt342]

Hey, greetings from Bulgaria, we are in the same spot and the US is now installing their newest servants in parliament.

[@petroskyrillos]

@@ddbt342 thanks and same to you. It's the whole EU and the weakest members are barking loudest. It's more perplexing how the most strong economy in Europe Germany shoot itself in the head and destroyed it's future. Perhaps because they never regained independence after they lost world war second. Look which state has most United States military bases and it's Germany, Japan and South Korea.

[@DiscoGemini]

Thank you for sharing that. I hope that you and your family find peace. Unfortunately, average citizens are used as pawns in this global geopolitical game that is being played by the international bankers and multi-national corporations....also known as the US. At some point WE have to begin to fight against the destruction of humanity. As long as our "leaders" are in control, all of our hopes for our children and grandchildren and indeed ourselves, will be go up in a plume of radioactive smoke. Actually, a thousand plumes.

[@petroskyrillos]

@@DiscoGemini See here the beginning of the resistance against authority and beginning of guerrilla like type warfare. People communicate through tools like Telegram. It's not our war movement.

[@samuelgalea7679]

It is what it is we have to endure it now

[@anirbanghosh5454]

The Western leadership, which considers only a small percentage of the Western population to be the international community and dreams of making that small percentage of opinion the world's opinion, excluding the populations of India, China and Asia, still has a lot to see. Long live India Russia 👍

[@J.M.254]

Although, the West will keep trying to put a hedge, between the friendship of India and Russia. I believe, both governments know this.

[@alibalaabdullahi6531]

Long live emperor Putin. we love you from Africa

[@pier3800]

The fact is, the so-called Western world is relatively more advanced than any other part of the globe. However, it is undeniable the "decline of the West and its core value"; furthermore, some less advanced countries step up the ladder. The gap is getting narrow every single year. Briefly, there are a lot of changes from a geopolitics perspective.

[@robertkelly-jh9zu]

Well said

[@ahhahchuang5926]

​@@pier3800😊

[@eddiemawa6914]

Thanks Prof for your honesty and telling the Western European countries where they went wrong and still have time to redeem themselves

[@ezzatmorsi768]

From Canada: the analysis you have mentioned is great. It's good to understand the difficult situation in the war of Ukraine.

[@grahamt5924]

It's not a great analysis as a European. You go live in Russia if you think being under Russian control is so great. They don't give you freedom in Russia.

[@paulmacleod3559]

Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa, are the BRICS Nation's, now Iran, Saudi Arabia and Mexico wants to join them and now a few more African nations wish to join them also. So my question to all is this, what happens to US Hegemonic rule, when more African nations and others around the globe seek to join BRICS?

[@petroskyrillos]

It's going to be like other imperiums. Look at England. Actually I believe average American citizens might benefit greatly. Today over 70% of United States population living in poverty because most of the people's federal taxes are spent on wars and it's military industrial complex.

[@hakoskosko2053]

Interesting

[@petroskyrillos]

@@hakoskosko2053 well I am a little harsh here because I revised a little my numbers. What we find is that the U.S. rates of poverty are substantially higher and more extreme than those found in the other 25 nations. The overall U.S. rate using this measure stands at 17.8 percent, compared to the 25 country average of 10.7 percent. The Scandinavian and Benelux countries tend to have the lowest rates of poverty. For example, the overall rate of poverty in Denmark is only 5.5 percent. And those values are if we are talking about extreme poverty numbers. The social safety net in the United States is much weaker than in virtually every other developed country. Second, the United States has been plagued by relatively low wages at the bottom of the income distribution scale when compared to other developed countries. These factors combine to contribute to both the relative and absolute depths of U.S. poverty in comparison to other industrialized nations. So it's 20 to 30% of population which enjoy pretty good life and there is shrinking pool of so called middle class people which means you are not hungry.

[@mouradbelkas598]

US Hegemonic rule is dead... The US-African summit of 2022 proved it.. So did the speech of the Mexican president.

[@Phil-fw2ib]

@@petroskyrillos illegal immigration

[@williambianchi6231]

Prof Wolf. A question you didn't bring up is what are the sanctions costing European economies? At one time, Russia and Iran were substantial markets for European businesses. How are they making up the loss of those markets?

[@mouradbelkas598]

Check they industries, they are in ruins. They are trying to make up those losses with China, but they have to seek permission from their master first...The objective of Ukraine's war is also to destroy EU economy and make it weak.

[@HM-hu4hu]

No they weren't.

[@mouradbelkas598]

@@HM-hu4hu They back fire at their economy and commit a political suicide

[@mgronich948]

Europe wanted to reverse Trump's pull out of the JCPOA. Didn't happen. Western oil companies pulled out of Russia at a cost to the companies of many 10's of billions of dollars. The oil companies however made up for their losses and much more by gouging European consumers and businesses with ultra-high energy prices. Europe likely paid an extra trillion dollars for energy in 2022. But Europe is now an economic basket case. 100,000 strong protests in France. Massive rail and transport union strike in Germany. Large strikes by multiple unions in the UK. That and a looming bank crisis. Later in 2023 the BRICS will announce a BRICS buck, which will be used for international trade outside of the G7. The need for dollars will shrink dramatically.

[@goodlife6277]

​@@HM-hu4hu Wrong

[@3800ThaBizz]

As a American of African descent I absolutely love it. To hear the government talk about helping Africa in hopes to persuade them from doing business with China is the funniest thing ever! We’re living in a unique time, it’s definitely a humbling experience for some. we are going to see a regime change🎉😂.

[@yvonneyork1263]

Professor Wolff is such a calm rational and even compassionate commentator of geopolitical realities. He is an economist who sees that balance and cooperation across global economies is necessary for world peace.

[@CK-jo9im]

Prof. Wolf, I will hope that the Europeans watch and listen to your analysis. Its a bitter pill but objective

[@HM-hu4hu]

Of course they won't. Europeans don't support a fascist dictatorship's imperialist war in Europe. Wolff is clueless.

[@beingnonbeingincludesexistence]

I am dutch (Netherlands), i have listened for a long time to Richard wolf and for some time Michael Hudson, that guy is pure gold, wollfe also ofcourse🙂. The only problem i have my parents and others think i am a conspiracy theorist lol i just say it like it is, it's quite sad and do feel alone in this, there are not many people who see this. People don't believe that the corporate sector has its hands in government for quite some time, my parents think that mainstream media is trustworthy etc etc it's sad😔.

[@ciararespect4296]

Too late

[@beingnonbeingincludesexistence]

@@ciararespect4296 yep i think that too

[@falloftheeagle8645]

Usa n western warmongers all are not welcomed in Asia.... your evil intentions are easily recognised by all Asia with the exception of your famous p@riah slaves in india

[@rais1953]

Prof Wolff thank you for your analysis. One thing - the rapprochement if it happens between Saudi Arabia and Iran is not between the Sunni and the Shiite Muslims. The Wahhabi sect that dominates Saudi Arabia is as inimical to Sunni teaching as it is to the Shiites. Rather it's a political move that sets aside the religious differences between the two. We'll see if it works but I'm sure there are forces in the West and in Israel who will pull out all stops to ensure that it doesn't.

[@samstone4320]

The satanic trinity of the USA UK and Israel will not be happy.

[@fannyalbi9040]

if it cracks happen again, then muslim r stupid than they thought they r smart

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

Ooo ... yes, the US has had many years of practice (particularly in Latin America) in supporting, then co-opting and then building on nefarious, or not, elements within societies so that eventually it'll leads to revolutions and coups. It's currently using that same strategy in countries in SE Asia.

[@PhiloSurfer]

It should work because the religious divide is artificial and imposed for power and control. If Protestants and Catholics can stop killing each other, so can the Sunni and Shiite. However, as you pointed out, the US and Israel will do their darnest to sabotage this peace deal.

[@mamounali5707]

You are right. And this will open another war ground similar to Ukraine. In the middle east. THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR ISREAL EU AND USA IS TO WAGE WARS In order to remove china from being a major player in international affairs. They European Isreal usa cant lose world hegemony.

[@Freddie19008]

One of the best explanation on the current situation between Western countries, Japan, S Korea, Australian and country of the South .Keep up the good works.

[@jimmyradebe-ub2rq]

Thank you so much Prof Wolff for the truth , when US and EU sanctions Russia they thought Russia would be on its knees in 3 weeks , Russians are very much intelligent they knew all about what US is planning . So they were prepared at the moment the Russian economy is growing fast , thanks again Prof Wolff for your POWERFUL KNOWLEDGE cheers

[@rezamehr9379]

Prof. Wolff very strong message.. Definitely send your message to many people around two countries Sweden and Iran.. With all respect for Prof. Wolff

[@rolandkaschek9722]

In my view you have left out one important point. I hypothesize that that leading EU-europeans believe that after breaking up Russia into 5 parts the US will allow them preferable terms concerning the exploitation of the riches of Russia.

[@etbuch4873]

If that was the plan the Europeans and the politicians and oligarchs of the US regime have hatched, they were treating Russia like how the European colonial regimes treat Africa back during 16th through 19th Century. Well, quite a few European regimes and the US tried on China during 18th through 19th Century, but they failed. One would wonder what makes Europeans and those in power in the US regime think they could do it again and Russia was their target doomed to be victimized by them?

[@mouradbelkas598]

yes, like they did with France building the Submarine for Australia and many other deals..

[@johnparry9636]

I completely agree with this view and it’s one I have expressed myself. I’ve no doubt the Europeans were promised a quick end to hostilities, so no cost to them. US sanctions would quickly cripple the Russian economy and a more compliant leader would replace Putin. US and EU businesses would profit mightily from the return of corrupt oligarchs and Russian wealth would be stolen once again, as it was under Boris Yeltsin.

[@johnnyoravec]

Russia is carving up Ukraine f face. 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺🇩🇪🇵🇱🇭🇷

[@grahamt5924]

That sounds completely nuts.

[@robinpoole6918]

Brilliant as usual. Easy to understand clear and precise. If only he could be on mainstream media,the "sheeple "might become individuals and and realise how they've been duped and start thinking for themselves

[@dinosgsideras3158]

You are very right it puzzled me from the beginning but you thoroughly explained it the educated way and I know now how stupid Europe was and instead of wholeheartedly approach Russia and benefit from the rich resources pushed her into the arms of China and soon EU will be bankrupt

[@arvothomson9339]

yeah, Dinos, why let ethics interfere with commerce! you would have recommended doing trade with Nazi Germany and "benefit from the rich resources" which thy had violently conquered from the countries they invaded! good for you , ppeople with no moral compass have an easier time getting rich!

[@grahamt5924]

We have banned petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and gas boilers in new homes with the idea of net zero by 2050. The leaders in Europe are trying to run in all directions at once.

[@jensholm5759]

But thats the whole point. None of this areas/countries was benefitting. There was so little benefit, that there were nothing to share. Low and uneducated people cant raise livingstandards apart from 0 to a very low level. Nothing new were implmented. It was a lazybum system with no responsible and loay people to increase anything in most levels. there by that were no structures for production and distributioin. Putin cvanrt even get in tax to the dying healtcare sector.

[@user-dr9wv7if2o]

Russia is not only resources, but also a huge scientific potential. Two-thirds of discoveries in the last 30 years have been made by Russians. Even the modern production of microchips is a Soviet development. Russia has learned a very useful lesson. You can not rely on anyone, so everything from modern raw materials to the final high-tech product will be produced in Russia.

[@grahamt5924]

@@user-dr9wv7if2o You are also going to learn that war is expensive

[@okoelsaidi5203]

No language barrier to wisdom

[@Shining237]

❤️ Professor Wolff - very accurate, and well said 👍

[@andreamalaguti64]

The anguish in Europe is not "Did we choose wrong?" It is: "When the nuclear war starts, we get nuked and the US don't."

[@philiprenshaw9184]

Brilliant analysis by Prof Wolff, the tide is shifting and we have only ourselves to blame for this debacle

[@hujiannong]

FACT : Europe is a semi American colony 😢 Colonies don't "choose", they never have a choice. European policy on Ukraine was not out of choice. NATO states do not have sovereignty to choose.

[@cheguevara5560]

Very valid point ,so simple ... Once those ex eastern block countries joined NATO they loose they soveregnity very true They did have choice / Not to join NATO in the first place ,very shortsighted decision with huge consequences for everyone involved

[@hujiannong]

@@cheguevara5560 not to mention those US military bases inside many NATO states. One can't call self a sovereign country with foreign military bases within its borders, they are literally occupying parts of those states

[@cheguevara5560]

@@hujiannong What can I say .... I served two years in Warsaw pact army in Czechoslovakia in early 80es very close to West German border and we were aware they were NATO troops on the other side but no one really cared , The ballance of the power between west and east mean security for whole Europe at that time . Fast forward to 89 Berlin wall and collapse of USSR and this " balance of power " was destroyed by NATO expansion The consequences are the war in Ukraine ,where anti Russian sentiment was fueled prior to the war ,US medling in Ukraine internal affairs 2014 Maidan in Kiew ... Nothing new here ,select pro US western liberal politicians in those "eastern block" countries put them on your payrol and within few years they will open they borders to NATO and that exactly what they did . They become vazal states and vazal is not a free person to decide his faith and future

[@player627]

NATO states joined voluntarily and can leave voluntarily. Your statement that they lack the sovereignty to choose makes no sense. What is a semi-American colony?

[@iniobongjackson]

Listening to you has helped me tremendously in my studies as a Political Economist.

[@zatoichison6420]

Superb !! What a mind !! Perhaps the Americans and Europeans do not like to hear the true but this is the true !! Thank you professor !!

[@sandrajones1609]

I have just found your site today and am so grateful for your time, knowledge and willingness to share with all

[@theprisonerofzenda2862]

A wise teacher is a gift from God. Thank you, Professor.

[@sariputri9687]

Thank you so much Prof Wolff 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@ngezas100]

"The world is changing" I thought I should just grab that part because to me it captures perfectly your message and I'm afraid that Europe and America will not change simply because as u said those politicians grew up with a mindset that is fixed on what they've been doing over the years. My worry is their populations will suffer as a result.

[@sergiocastaneda6]

As clear as water, thanks professor Wolff for sharing tour knowledge with us, all the best and keep spreading the word.

[@Junksaint]

We have to do our part too spreading it comrades ✌️

[@bibekjung7404]

KABIR ALMIGHTY GOD is CREATOR of all souls

[@falloftheeagle8645]

@@YTcensors what about that thing being the creator of all corks n cants

[@falloftheeagle8645]

@@Junksaint the fall will be hard Why not help make it easier by speeding up the process of decolonizing usa n europe

[@eentun9340]

@YTCensors 😮😮😮😮OMG , I hope someday soon you’ll find your soul and find out how WRONG this statement of yours is.

[@steventan2550]

Excellent analysis Prof. Wolff. Thank you.

[@jensholm5759]

Whe You start with false anything after is true even its false too.

[@teckmenglee8060]

I believe that the European leaders know, by now, that their choice to support USA in punishing Russia is very damaging to their own economies. But the key reason why they don't back down is because their personal political reputation would be at risk if they do back down and also because it is "OTHER PEOPLE's MONEY". They don't care as the millions of ordinary people are paying for it.

[@numerouno8593]

Great explanation as always from prof. Wolff. Thank you. 🙏🙏👍👍

[@iniobongjackson]

I love watching and listening to Prof.

[@lawrencenoctor2703]

Thanks again for a crisp and clear appaisal.

[@kellysalvador0210]

Prof Wolff very well said, very clear, thank you very much, how i wish everyone would have seen this report and comment of yours. thank you really.

[@liftrucs]

Extremely well analysed and well explained, but as a UK citizen I'm still not sure why we have skin in the game.

[@sivalir]

Brilliant analysis as always from Prof Wolff; thank you very much

[@petroskyrillos]

A very good channel is "The Duran". Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou. Good analysis of the war in Ukraine but also the latest news from the world. I like to listen to them very much

[@ansa336]

Do not forget the outstanding, New Atlas.

[@paulvandijck6476]

Respect for you, Dr. Richard Wolff! Greetings from a Dutchman!

[@user-rc4he4un2y]

Thank you, professor, for your deep analysis of the current situation. I share your video with my students.

[@johnwright8814]

You don't know how distressing it is for me to see my country, headed by the unelected Rishi Rich Sunak, be the most enthusiastic puppy dog of the United States. Now we have pledged depleted uranium shells, I despair, what will become of Britain.

[@user-vn6jh2jg9w]

I really like your way of making even complex matters seem easier to us Thanks for the video it helps to understand what's going on and to predict the future Thanks again

[@rakeshmaskare5050]

As a citizen of India, I think my country is better placed in the world today than many countries which are part of either of the blocks.

[@johnnyoravec]

You duckers better decide who’s side you are on. You took American jobs and side with Russia. Good luck.

[@miliaurora1038]

@@johnnyoravec Indians living in India has nothing to do with those who leave the country and go to US। If you people don't like them, kick them out। We don't care। Hope that solves the problem। And about taking side: nope thank you। Mind your own।

[@johnnyoravec]

@@miliaurora1038 I was talking about the ones working the boiler room phone banks in India aka our customer service lines.

[@cuttingedge7688]

@@johnnyoravec don’t give them that’s it

[@davidwright8432]

Thanks once again, Prof Wolff! Short, clear, persuasive, and to the point. Between you and Yanis Varoufakis, I'm getting a good foundation in economics, and global politics.

[@LB-mu8hh]

I'm thankful that the US & Europe did not turn a blind eye to human atrocities resulting from Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. It is not all about economics professor and Europe choosing a different partner. You still have to live with yourself.

[@Jonathantuba]

No doubt Russia has committed atrocities, but so has Ukrainian, committing genocide shelling their own Russian ethnic people in the Dombass for the last 8 years killing over 14,000 civilians. Ukrainian is not some innocent country invaded without reason

[@peachychoc7905]

And you and so called western world turned a blind eye on the destruction of Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti, Yemen, Somalia

[@nkhensanibaloyi840]

I am thankful Russia decided to step in and stop the killings of people in the Donbass by the Kiev neo Nazi terrorists.

[@jrshield7793]

I agree with you Professor they did it out of habit, but they also did it out of venality in the form of cash stuffed envelopes and other goodies. What else could it possibly be ?

[@ciararespect4296]

Exactly. Uk top dogs selling the Uk people out. Even before they loved the oligarchs. Follow the money as usual

[@KayyHong]

German automakers like BMW. Volkswagen and Benz would be in big trouble without the U.S. market and the Germans know it.

[@emerdigiorgio3594]

@ BooBoo...Personal greed and betrayal.

[@richardtung4109]

Well said. Keep it up Proffesor Woff.

[@edreeves6440]

Europe still has a colonial outlook. Another disastrous decision they took was to take Indonesia to the WTO over Indonesia's 2020 decision to stop the export of unprocessed minerals, the key one being nickel, Indonesia being the world's largest producer and exporter. This cost European refineries dearly and they weren't going to take that decision lying down. In fact Europe won their case, but they won't be getting any unrefined ore from Indonesia, all they've done is make one more enemy to add to a long list. China was also affected by this decision, so what did they do? Build refineries in Indonesia!

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

i certainly hope European governments take time to reflect on their relationship with the US and begin thinking about the needs and wants of their own citizens

[@torhec1804]

Thank you Prof. Wolf. Your analysis is as clear as water.

[@ezzatmorsi768]

From Canada I follow you in every video you have made. Thank you professor.

[@POENARUEDAN]

Thank you Professor Wolff !

[@bellybutton6138]

I hope the world will work together to benefit mankind. Even if we cannot get along, there is no need to be enemies.

[@dubjubs]

Sadly you have people in this comment section wishing America to fall and not even considering that American citizens don't even want this war either so honestly I feel it'll always be two sides fighting regardless of who's involved over things that we shouldn't care about. It's the Elites vs Citizens

[@GaryHudsonsMusic]

Didn't Putin do the "miscalculation?:

[@fairt.r5254]

No he didn't. He did what he was supposed to do except he was more humane and never wanted a dead Ukrainian. He believed in humanity and presumed that the ruler in Ukraine would have at least an iota of respect to Ukrainian lives and so would agree to the Minsk treaty they signed. He ended up sacrificing his own soldiers before convincing himself of the savage nature of NATO.

[@user-nw8oi9vn9y]

Recently, the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) accepted Iran's membership which comes in with its oil-bourse. Meanwhile, Iran is selling giant gas turbines and cars and other things with Russia. Remember, Iran has decades of experience and accumulated knowledge in circumventing sanctions and can not only trade with Russia, but teach them some sanction busting techniques. In return, Russia is helping Iran build its peaceful nuclear infrastructure to create energy and medicines. Russia is now also able to access Iran's warm waters. The North-South corridor is shipping goods from St. Petersburg to Chabahar port and then shipped off through the Arabian sea. That's just the tip of the iceberg of new relations that Russia has available to it. BRICS is significant, but there are many other countries that prefer doing business with Russia. Each country by itself might not be a game-changer, but together with other countries, they give Russia more than it had before. Also, these countries are trading in local currencies and bartering. This is good news for the world. The petrodollar hegemony is fading.

[@mdchowdhury236]

My salute to Professor Wolf 🐺!!

[@criticalcookie2579]

As my dad always said, "You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas".

[@etbuch4873]

"dogs infested with fleas" only.

[@livklopp2526]

prof. This is so meticulously spot on.

[@ngandosambalundula8183]

Thanx for your succinct, on the target brilliant summary of a complex situation!

[@profzvezdochkin5739]

Thank you for these words of wisdom. Signed up with pleasure!

[@artemiovelaochaga2209]

Thank you!!!

[@noellaw3477]

Wow! This is a awesome presentation!

[@edgardogabrido5907]

You are right of what you have said Sir. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom.

[@UmmadikTas]

Thank you Prof Wolff. Your input and work for informing us is very valuable for us.

[@kjv444]

Excellent posting. Shared to my Twitter page

[@nittos49perciste2]

Bravo ,spot on ,.

[@juliorubido6336]

Prof Wollf; thanks for all the clear informa- cion that you provided on the present report. At least, we your conversation, we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[@leonbishop7404]

these videos are great, but I strongly encourage everyone to rewatch them every set period of months, so you have more perspective on whether these assessments were correct and to what extent

[@nevergivein-nevergiveup2u]

Powerful insight as usual, professor.Thanks.

[@petroskyrillos]

We could have here in city of Łódź large Chinese export/import hub to move trade goods between east and west. All of this is gone and probably is not going to happen in my lifetime.

[@etbuch4873]

I thought back in 2018 or so I noticed some reports about the Rail Silk Road that runs from China to Europe through Lodz, and the local people of Lodz were quite happy about making profits from trading with both the East and the West with the hub functioning as an ATM not only for Lodz but also for Poland as a whole. Are you saying that the Rail Silk Road was also sanctioned by the US-NATO, in order to suppress China's development?

[@petroskyrillos]

@@etbuch4873 What traders value most is certainty, and war, according to the famous Prussian general Carl Von Clausewitz, is the realm of uncertainty. Since the future of the NELB is closely tied to the outcome of the war in Ukraine, its future is therefore uncertain. What is known, and what we already have seen, is a large number of European traders uninhibited by existing sanctions, and who make up the bulk of the NELB’s Eastbound freight, willingly turn to other shipping modalities or alternative overland routes, citing primarily moral objections to the invasion. What is unknown, and what we have yet to see, is whether these traders will return to the NELB once the uncertainty of war gives way to relative peace. Despite the existence of alternative modalities and the creation of new overland corridors, the strategic niche offered by the NELB cannot be effectively reproduced by any of the aforementioned alternatives, as they are inherently less efficient. Market forces drove the growth of the NELB and market forces will be its only form of salvation. For the NELB, and broader Sino-European overland connectivity in general to have a future, the NELB must once again become a commercially appealing option for trader's.

[@narendramurty5186]

Thanks Dr Wolff. Had been a long time admirer of yours

[@felixbruette4793]

Thank you sir for your time and information😊

[@ronalddippenaar2381]

Brilliant analysis professor Wolff.

[@Canelitapo]

Thank you so much

[@michaelt2397]

Outstanding commentary. I really enjoyed the perspectives presented. Thoughtful, well reasoned and provocative

[@mrfoo5827]

Very good and frank and knowledgeable video. Watching from Singapore

[@user-ru1xy8od8k]

I consider it a fundamental mistake to over-rationalize the European elite. We do not even have the prerequisites to assume that in the depths of the European politicum other ideas and thoughts can be born, which, FUNDAMENTALLY, would be distinguishable from the current ones. For this, other people, other heads are needed in order to generate other thoughts and ideas. But where can they come from in Europe, after so many decades of negative political selection? We don't think they're idiots, medically, no, it's just that their "common sense" is their internal logic, unable to make decisions other than those that have already been made. Why would this deeply consolidated groups of people, in a crisis, must change their thinking so dramatically? Is that how it works? Doesn't science tell us that groups of people, within the framework of the challenge of the external and internal environment, will tend to consolidate within the group, and develop conservative, understandable to them, solutions to external and internal challenges? In order for thinking to change, the current political succession must be replaced by another one. That is, at least in the countries of Europe, an internal struggle must take place, which will certainly go beyond the framework of conventional methods. This is the inner challenge! And what will it lead to? To even greater rallying of the current group of people, to even greater radicalization in relation to their opponents, and to even more escalation to external challenges. There is no talk of any trade, prosperity. This environment is much more emotional than rational, it has a lot of personal, for the rulers of the Western world. Is it better to have a crisis and fall in the level of countries, in an attempt to inflict damage and also reduce the level of opponent countries, rather than go into oblivion and be subject to prosecution? Why should they personally choose for themselves the decline of the power of the power structures in which they are included? For the prosperity of the electorate? Are there examples over the past decades that someone from this politically selective group, at least once thought about it, is outside the framework of standard models and templates? The crisis and conflict itself allows not fulfilling even these obligations, because there are objective reasons! Are you not doing well? Well, it's not our fault, the free world is only fighting for a world based on the rules, everything is to blame, and there is a long list of persons and causes. Europe, in order to think about the choice you are talking about, must go through a series of crises that will completely reshape the entire political and social landscape. Is this even possible today without a direct conflict? Conflict and crisis are carved in stone, for today's events to take a different turn, different decisions should have been made 20 or even 30 years ago. No pill for regret!!!

[@Who_Let_The_Dogs_Out_10-7]

Thanks!

[@DARKSTAR-mn8ee]

For the rest of the world, Remember never ever trust the US or EU.

[@hkiani6853]

100% 100% correct. Situation since last 100 years.

[@NoRockinMansLand]

The west is falling

[@douglaszhang7648]

Thank you. from Australia

[@richardwilliams6920]

Clear and succinct, thank you.

[@wayneanderson6370]

Very good analysis and commentaries.

[@joeajmi4586]

clearly expressed.

[@felipemasong3216]

Yes. I totally agree with you sir. I have shared your video on my fb

[@abdallah344401]

Well said, you are honest and open up the sleeping minds, Thanks