Carl Bildt: The history of Ukraine is different from the history of Russia

Carl Bildt | former Prime Minister of Sweden
The Ukrainian-Russian gas dispute. Implications for Western Europe | Oslo
Ukranian oil and gas company, Naftogaz, Wikborg Rein has presented the arbitral awards between Naftogaz and Gazprom of Russia - the largest commercial arbitration in history - in a wider context.
Representatives from the energy sector, law, politics, and international experts were along with academics and civil society representatives present to discuss the energy situation in Europe, in particular the controversial Russian pipeline project Nord Stream 2, and the wider geopolitical aspects of the four-year arbitration dispute. Among the speakers were Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, CEO of Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolyev, Chief Commercial Officer of Naftogaz, Yuriy Vitrenko, and Dag Mjaaland, Partner in Wikborg Rein and Lead Counsel for Naftogaz:
www.wr.no/aktuelt/nyheter/201...

[@johnfarmind5267]

Bildt: Look at these slides I have prepared. Camera man: No

[@zachhoward9099]

Abysmal camerawork regarding showing the slides

[@marceloorellana5726]

Right!!! I kept fast forwarding. 🤦🏼

[@knkyclpy]

The sound could have been louder also

[@str.77]

A practice you see very often.

[@stroys7061]

My gripe exactly. We know what the speaker looks like, l would like to see the slide presentation.

[@vandergruff]

When I want to learn anything about the history of Russia or the Eastern European Slavs, I always try to find some former Swedish politician to tell me.

[@rafikrabhi7684]

Especially the one who doesn't even know the history of Sweden

[@draganignjatovic4812]

🤣🤣

[@draganignjatovic4812]

🤣🤣

[@MrZenGuitarist]

Precisely - you cannot simply ask like random Eastern European Slavs themselves. To be objective is always far more important than simply being correct. This is science after all for God's sake! Glad that you got that. ;-)

[@draganignjatovic4812]

@@MrZenGuitarist Indeed, the politicians stick to science, as little Johnny would see it.

[@albertmutton1687]

Pity some of the filming misses the maps and concentrates on him. All the maps we see most of the time is Denmark and part of Germany

[@joeyboedeker7205]

Love how all these lectures are finally being watched.😁😁😁

[@mickelodiansurname9578]

Interesting to note that the process by which they are suggested to you is pretty much autonomous... well, maybe? Is the google algo giving you this based on your viewing history? or did it have help?

[@banananotebook3331]

@@mickelodiansurname9578 It's a feedback loop; the more people watch the more people get recommended, and recommendations are having a fairly high success rate right now; however, if the system recommended it five years ago, the loop would be broken because people aren't likely to have cared then as compared with now. So, a little from column A, a little from column B.

[@chris10hi]

Humanity always fights because of differences. This war is basically a linguistic conflict, Ukraine wants to join Europe which is better organised and more industrious because Europeans especially the Germans speak an alarm language, this is the reason for this difference in wealth and development. Russia does not need to feel threatened by Ukraine or EU, Russia can become highly developed themselves, to understand the topic please see kzbin.info/www/bejne/q33NgaeFmJuAfJY

[@Nik-jq4tx]

Sweden put its nose into Ukraine and Russia in the 18th century but was defeated 1709 at Poltava (Ukraine) by the Russian Tsar Peter I. The Swedish King Karl XII lost his army and flew to Turkey

[@birdnoir5841]

ikr, it's like the world is finally paying attention to the Easter Europe states post-ussr

[@keithdunwoody1302]

Interesting presentation. The Ukrainian ambassador's question was especially prescient. He even brought up Nord 2 and warned about the EU's lack of concern over Putin's ability to leverage gas as a weapon. Bildt scolding Ukraine about its economic dependence on gas in retrospect is weak when you look at this war now, and how Germany and others are panicking.

[@AkakaDomenjer]

Just f off out of Europe usa! F off

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Why not apply that thought to the US ? If the US becomes capable of supporting German fuel needs, and begin to supply Gas, why are they incapable of exerting political pressure with their supplies? The US created the reasons for the sanctions that appear to drive Russia out of a multi billion dollar business they had developed in Europe. That act seems to prove that the US is a self serving and corrupt government who seems to lack ethics or shame?

[@MrZenGuitarist]

Well, I would argue that Bildt is somewhat of an expert in scolding nations - in retrospect! He did the same (to some of the nationalities [forgotten which though] in) former Yugoslavia - so much so that a public speaking that he was to hold at one of these places after the war had ended had to be cancelled! He also did the same with Ethopia and Somalia (and I believe some other African nations) for expelling, killing and forcibly 'removing/relocating' some of its citizens from its territories, when they did so to be able to extract oil from these lands - despite the fact he was heavily 'compromised', to say the least! Since he, himself was partly the owner of the said oil-company that was to extract it!!!??? Yeah! That's Bildt - the self-appointed 'moral crusader' in a nutshell...

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@MrZenGuitarist Political Prostitutes are easily bought with some discreet deposits in Banks that do not reveal who has savings accounts hidden in those well funded Banks. The process of buying political appointments seems as simple as vesting Families with Fiefs, by Monarchs..... The modern use of Capitalism by those with the most Capital, may be some different description from the Feudal System, but in reality, it seems almost unchanged. Oligarchs simply do not ride around in Parades so Often, like Monarchs once did.....

[@MrZenGuitarist]

@@danielhutchinson6604 Exactly - these days they are instead discretely driven around in their 'plain', new Mercedees, with blackened windows by their trusted private chauffer to highly disclosed locations.....to take part in secretive, exclusive freemason-meetings and draw up plans for their next scheme to further increase the number of zeroes in their even more disclosed bank accounts! But of course - only in ways just as jurisprudentially non-illegal as they're distastefully, morally reprehensible. Just as their proud family-tradition ordains. After all, they have forefathers to honor! Since, as you probably know - to uphold tradition, fine culture and sophistication are just as important as to increase your prestige, social standing and wealth! ;-)

[@deeccummings7481]

As an American who has been largely unlearned of finer points of the history of Ukraine especially in relation to Russia, this has been interesting and enlightening. I am glad this came across my KZbin suggestions.

[@ukiz]

also Timothy Snyder have a good explanation about Ukraine. You wouldn`t be disappointed

[@drugvash4899]

So easy to teach Americans anything.....you are so uneducated and self centered - you will gobble any myth thrown at you....

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

@@drugvash4899 They'll lose their podium sooner than you think.

[@jean6872]

@@drugvash4899 Learn some manners.

[@idealicfool]

Highly recommended the video on the Kiyv/rus by the Kings and Generals channel. Did an amazing job summing up Ukrainian and Russian ancient history from the first warlords before Rurik to enter the east and to "engage" with Byzantium, and Rurik becoming ruler of the Area, up until the Prince of Novgorod willingly surrendered o the Mongolians to spare his people the slaughter the rest of the Easter slavs had been subjected to.

[@Errr717]

Watching this on March 4th, 2024 is like watching a prophecy coming to fruition. I wish the cameraman would have stayed at wide angle so we could see the screen.

[@enstucky]

I think you set your machine to the wrong year, sir ;)

[@Errr717]

@@enstucky LOL I guess I over projected my timeline. Thanks!

[@eefneleman9564]

Well, can you tell us what the future is going to look like? Are we finally going to have Mr Fusion?

[@Errr717]

@@eefneleman9564 I think Ukrainian cities will get obliterated like the Allies did to German cities in WW2, and the Russian economy will be wrecked regardless of the outcome of the war. And in the end, Putin will either be killed by his own people just like the Italians did to Mussolini or poison himself.

[@dantronics1682]

since you are in the year 2024, could you let us know what its like and did nato get involved?

[@hawkeye-007]

How interesting, an Ukrainian oil company Naftogaz suggests we learn the history of Ukraine and Russia from a Swedish politician… Five minutes short course of the past and then straight into his interpretation of political events… Bravo!

[@walentystankiewicz8486]

Why there is only map of Polish Commenwealth, not Ukraine ?

[@catnap387]

@@walentystankiewicz8486 Thought it was POLISH LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH!!!!

[@unitedstatesdale]

@@catnap387 Your 100% correct. Its funny how Lithuania is swept away thru a history revisionist

[@catnap387]

@@unitedstatesdale It's regular occurrence!

[@glennmiller9491]

Great video.

[@historynerd6630]

His analysis aged very well compared to what other so called experts told us over the years

[@matimus100]

So it's about belief and that's a fact. Leave me and my children out of this holy war.

[@chris10hi]

Humanity always fights because of differences. This war is basically a linguistic conflict, Ukraine wants to join Europe which is better organised and more industrious because Europeans especially the Germans speak an alarm language, this is the reason for this difference in wealth and development. Russia does not need to feel threatened by Ukraine or EU, Russia can become highly developed themselves, to understand the topic please see kzbin.info/www/bejne/q33NgaeFmJuAfJY

[@Nik-jq4tx]

Sweden put its nose into Ukraine and Russia in the 18th century but was defeated 1709 at Poltava (Ukraine) by the Russian Tsar Peter I. The Swedish King Karl XII lost his army and fled to Turkey

[@okyouknowwhatever]

@@Nik-jq4tx He flew to Turkey? In what? An air balloon Amundsen style? Russian military is famous for being incompetent and mostly relying on its many soldiers as cannon fodder. You couldn't even beat tiny Finland in a war but got spanked and molotov cocktailed. It was a beautiful thing.

[@okyouknowwhatever]

Carl Bildt is a Swedish Neo-con so he knows a lot about "nation building"

[@zachhoward9099]

Whoever did this camerawork should be ashamed of themselves, hardly shows any of the slides

[@svennielsen633]

This is an interesting view on newer Ukrainian history. Too bad that European leaders did not pay attention to this in time. Less than four years later and we are at war. It could have been prevented, if Europe had acted in time.

[@Retroscoop]

And acted in which way exactly ? Accepting in 1 2 3 Ukrainian membership ? Don't you think Europe is still digesting somewhat the earlier expansion to the East ? And what if you hear that key persons in the Ukraine don't necessarily share the European ideas, but are mainly interested in the open market ? Don't you think a gradual integration had advantages too, in stead of "buying a cat in a bag" ?

[@jean6872]

Europeans chatted about an Economic Agreement when Ukraine was corrupt and they were shelling their own ethnic Russians in the Donbas for 8 years and the Europeans barely took note. Ukraine was in a mess and now they want immediate membership of the EU while they are in a war. The Europeans were useless and now they are arming the Ukrainians to carry on a deadly fight by themselves.

[@idealicfool]

@@jean6872 of course NATO (a nuclear power) cannot physically enter Ukraine against Russia. All that can be done is to provide resources and to ease the way for anyone willing to independently travel to Ukraine to fight for them, which has been happening with Poland being 1 of the largest contributors of men on the ground.

[@jean6872]

@@idealicfool playing with fire

[@williamyoung9401]

Holy crap! A smart former head of state?! What's up with Sweden? We like to do things differently in America... =P

[@VictorNewman201]

Its interesting to see a Scandinavian politician saying that 1) Scandinavians created the original Russian & Ukrainian states, and 2) Scandinavians will now help take down the current version of the Russian empire / USSR.

[@justinemot2282]

@@varangianwolf6128 shame on you for being so stupid. Yuck

[@Silver_Prussian]

@@victorg2700 uhhh no the russians ukrainians and belorussians were esentualty the same people after thd mongols invaded the principality of slavs split then mny were under the control of the mongols but only novgorod and muscovy were more free, muwcovy deffeated novgorod and the mongols. What you said is just a dumb thing a polish guy who gated russia invented saying they are not slavs even though they are geneticaly the closest to all eestern slavs to poles and slovenes. They are not a mix of anyrhing but slavs its historicly and geneticaly proven, cry if you dont like it.

[@junglecat_rant]

@@Silver_Prussian Generically proven? Are we talking about race policies like during the 3rd Reich?

[@Silver_Prussian]

@@junglecat_rant no as in genetic reserch that completly oblitarates what the other idiot above me said and proves he is not right

[@vita7236]

@icky Vicky я беларуска, и мы беларусы, украинцы и россияне, один народ! В состав Древней Руси, входил Новгород, Смоленск и Брянск,а это Россия! А то что наши предки любили передвигаться и завоевывать новые земли, то и столицу меняли с Новгорода в Киев с Киева в Новгород а потом в Санкт-Петербург а после уже Москва. Что касается языка, так раньше был только один язык древнерусский с разным диалектом в зависимости от региона. А поляки вообще запрещали беларусам разговаривать на своём языке, когда Беларусь была в составе Речи посполитой.

[@virginiawolf6431]

What is the EU doing to financially help Poland and its organizations which have mobilized to receive the bulk of refugees from Ukraine. More than 700,000 Ukrainian families welcomed in a few days with great attention by Poland, is an unprecedented fact. While no EU country utters even a word of appreciation, the opposite is concerned with the so-called "rule of law" issue. We can see how this state works in the event of a real humanitarian crisis. It is Germany that is not a State of Law. This country thinks it can do anything and does not respect the sanctions against Putin's Russia ? EU countries should take Germany to the EU Tribunal for failing to comply with sanctions. Russian gas and coal are still supplied to Germany, in exchange for the currencies which should block the Russian economy. A reprehensible fact and France or any other EU country is not bringing this country to justice. Germany is not above the law.

[@polyannamoonbeam]

The sanctions are not a blanket ban - targeted and selective over a time frame , some yet to actualise, rightly or wrongly.

[@elakaliszuk3630]

Germany+Russia=the war in Europe.

[@virginiawolf6431]

@@elakaliszuk3630 Yes

[@virginiawolf6431]

@@polyannamoonbeam This leading country of the EU only knows how to impose sanctions on others, who are weaker. On the other hand, it does nothing to help Poland in this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Suddenly we no longer hear it on the international scene. Country unworthy of our collaboration.

[@sylwia1410]

The EU gave Poland money to help Ukrainian refugees and I'm sure it'll help more soon. So far the Polish govt haven't done that much. All the help you see is provided by private people, institutions, companies and local authorities. So I'd say the Polish society passed a test, but it's the same civic society that is as concerned with the "rule of law" in Poland as is the rest of the EU.

[@yep9710]

Extremely interesting considering the date of this lecture (June 2018). With an ominous question at the very end from the Ukrainian ambassador in Norway.

[@louisgiokas2206]

He mentions in the question period, the case of Norway. Once when I was in Norway a Norwegian explained the issue to me. Their land is very poor agriculturally, but agriculture is central to their culture. The EU CAP would devastate Norwegian agriculture, so they decided not to go all in with the EU. This was sensible. All the other regulations make it easy to trade, which for a small country like Norway makes perfect sense.

[@Nabium]

Norway doesn't have the climate for agriculture, so our farmers could never compete against European farmers. We would lose our argiculture, which means lose our food security in case of a major crisis.

[@meadish]

@@Nabium Heja Norge! Världens bästa grannar.

[@louisgiokas2206]

@@Nabium Exactly. Of course, Norway has lots of fish. The first time I went on a family vacation to Norway we landed in Bergen. We had taken a ferry over from England, where we lived at the time. There was a market at the harbor, and you could actually buy whale meat.

[@Nabium]

@@louisgiokas2206 You can get whale meat in pretty much any grocery store, it's just another meat. But you can't live on fish alone. Kinda need some vegs and stuff with it. Also in the case of a war, the coast might be mine field, and fishing ships could be prohibited from leaving shore. We learned this from WW2. So you can't rely on fish alone as food security.

[@louisgiokas2206]

@@Nabium I know. My comment was meant a little in jest. I hope you take it that way.

[@ELARTEDELAMOTO]

Remember Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico belonged to Mexico 178 years ago!!!!

[@ahsanmohammed1]

Cannot see slides.

[@louisgiokas2206]

WOW! Just saw this. I knew a lot of the ancient history, and some of the recent history, but Mr. Bildt pulled it all together in a masterful way.

[@johnsmith1474]

It completely misrepresents the history of this crisis, but yeah he does look sharp. And for the record "Naftogaz" is the biggest state corporation in Ukraine, and the bias is telling. John Mearsheimer is the most respected geopolitical public intellectual in the US, he completely disagrees with every conclusion made by Bildt. See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKOwmoaHdqyCiZY&ab_channel=TheUniversityofChicago

[@louisgiokas2206]

@@johnsmith1474 Actually, I watched Mearsheimer's talk and fundamentally disagree with it.

[@CZOV]

Professional liar, yea, well done.

[@viktorsoderstjerna5528]

This man will have a great future 🤠

[@patrikfloding7985]

@@johnsmith1474 John Mearsheimer always seem to basically just say "do whatever Putin tells you to do". Not that helpful.

[@endyred453]

Why people alweys confuse Russians and Russian Empire with Soviets and Soviet Union..? It's really sad.. and disappointing

[@atwood640]

Without Russia there was no Soviet Union

[@mattiasthorslund6467]

Why, Putin confuses himself with the Soviet empire. Indeed, he's a product of it.

[@ecco2k771]

Cause Putin positions Russia as a successor of Soviet Union in international system? Your ignorance is what's actually sad.. and disappointing

[@createone100]

Carl Bildt is a marvellous and clear speaker. Well done!

[@Tedmoller]

So interesting to hear Carl Bildt´s point of view 4 years before the invasion of Ukraine. How he avoids German and other European countries' dependency on Russian gas. Blame Ukraine... If the EU wouldn´t be so dependent on Russian gas, Putin could probably not start, or at least not continue with the war.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

You seem to fail to consider the US Position as they appear to have forced Russia out of the European Gas business? Why would the US Provoke Russia with 5 billion bucks worth of weapons and a $16 billion IMF Loan? What does the US desire from European Consumers? It appears that the US is doing exactly what they accuse Russia of having the potential to do? The US is attempting to extort money from European Consumers with LNG. What will it take to get them to stop? Why is the US desperate to improve their GDP? Russia paid down their debts when Oil was selling at a high price...... The US has over 30 trillion that is becoming due..... The obvious one seems to be the Question that nobody asks.....

[@oranje-vrystaat3182]

Urkaintsy, with their stupidity, would still have unleashed a full-scale war with Russia. The Zelensky government openly refused to abide by any peace agreements signed in Minsk. Today, the government of Ukraine has begun to use the technique of outright terrorism. On August 20, in Moscow, employees of the Ukrainian SBU made an attempt on the life of political scientist Alexander Dugin, an explosive device was planted in his car, as a result of which his daughter died. On August 24, Ukrainian saboteurs blew up the car of the head of the military-civilian administration of the Zaporozhye region, Ivan Sushko, in which he was with his adopted daughter.

[@johnsmith1474]

Naftogaz is the biggest state owned company in Ukraine, it's not where you are going to hear unbiased explanations of Russian/Ukrainian tensions.

[@alexburke1899]

I’m not seeing a whole lot of bias in this presentation though. I’m sure the network is probably bias, but this guy is mostly stated history and facts anyone can verify.

[@FINNSTIGAT0R]

This seems to follow the same historical facts that have been stated in many sources, at least in the beginning of this video. I'm sure Carl Bildt would't make any huge revisionistic claims, as he does have a reputation to protect. But let's see, I'm only in the beginning of this.

[@ervie60]

Empty profile, no responses..perhaps a St. Petersburg troll you are?

[@idkwelp1082]

@@FINNSTIGAT0R kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHmzfXl-fayeY9E Russians didn’t come from moscow and Ukrainians didn’t come from Kiev. Kiev in question was a khazian city which was a massive trading based city. Which people from Rus(people who are rus were Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians since they were one identity) and their capital were Novgorod which is a Russian city and we took Kiev which formed Kievan Rus.

[@idkwelp1082]

Also khazians were central Asians

[@corinnem.239]

Can you make an updated version of this presentation considering current events in 2022.

[@EraphaseContemplation]

It would be good to be allowed to see the slides to follow the presentation of the speaker.

[@janjakolic3252]

Y. Bulat In the history of the human race, most atrocities are not committed out of envy, greed or some innate character flaws, but because of a trait we experience positively - because of obedience.

[@MrDeicide1]

Posluh

[@RobertBalejik]

"start as a small criminal... you have to start somewhere in politics" :D

[@unclejj13er75]

While the EU was debating how to implement passports for dogs and cats, Putin was figuring how to cut off Kyiv from the civilized world in order to impose his will. Perspective matters. Also the ability to recognize the absurd when one sees it.

[@spark_6710]

@JJ LongeMann 😅 I found this funny in a way as both of you got " JJ " with your names ! 😄

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

And while America was eyeing up a chance to sell billions of dollars of arm to a new NATO member with loads of natural resources like Ukraine. America does not get involved unless there is money to make . Forget their noses talk about democracy.

[@spark_6710]

You can't compare those as apples to oranges ! And that was important concern for the people at the time !! Not fair for you describing like that to make it appear so silly !! I know how it sounds ! If you say that way ,it sounds/ seems so stupid ! But,it wasn't & needed ! And ,besides ,those politicians have millions of things they have to go thru with ,all is something important to somebody !! Some are nonsense . They have to go through w/ thousands of stuffs a day ,everyday ! And something like this is always supervised & they keep their eye on it by all the intelligence works from both inside/ outside !! You know it !!? But,there's a limit to stop things from happening. Putin doesn't want Ukraine to become a Natto member ,Ukrain wants to ,but it didn't as that meant becoming a real target for Putin / Russia ! Putin has been testing the water ! For a much bigger goal / picture ! As you know !! And those politicians & countries have to go with their books/ codes / rules / treads ,etc. Putin is the only one doesn't care of those !! So ,not really fair to criticize like that !! I DO understand what you're saying ,though ! Another thing is ,there's more to each war & politics that we hardly see !! It's a very twisted world & there are so many layers of things hidden that'll hardly surface to be visible to the public / ordinal people !! It's easy for us to criticize it !! But ,if we see all those under the layers/covers ,we will go insane !! The basic of the issues is that whatever they are ,it all works for some certain people's benefits / profits/ beliefs ,never meant for the ordinary life of ordinal people ,that's how things are in this world !!! Heartbreaking !! They knew what was going on ! They aren't stupid ! 💜🥁🐉🎤💞

[@spark_6710]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 OMG 😲 You're another J.J. here ,too !!! The heck !!? Lol. The 3rd one !! Like synchronicity !!! I agree with you on that ,too ! Btw. But also ,they have to go by the book ! Ukraine isn't a Natto country ,so the allies can't fight with them against Russia as you know !! All wars exist for rich people 's profits & their beliefs ,not our sakes ,or benefits !! 💔💜🥁🐉🎤💞

[@happyhappynuts]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 did USA attack Russia ? No. Did Putin invade Ukraine? Yes Stop ignoring what's in front of you. There are Russian tanks in Ukraine. There is no USA tanks in Russia. There are not even USA tanks in countries next to Russia. Americans did a lot a bad stuff and stupid adventurism but this conflict is purely Putin's ego.

[@marypartridge5154]

What year was this talk please.???

[@MichaelT_123]

Very good impartial presentation/analysis.

[@czeslawdziuba467]

What about 1994 deal?????

[@vancouveruzbekistan5350]

PLEASE from now on POST WITH FULL VOLUME- like that we are free to listen clearly from a bit of distance

[@stevenshackelford1937]

Camera coverage is terrible. 95% of it should have been on the map or screen that he refers to. NOT on Carl Bildt. Why it was done this way, I have no idea. This is the whole idea of 'VIDEO'... to actually see at the same time you hear! What is the point of seeing the speaker at all, maybe than to introduce himself in the beginning??

[@dianeorehek4633]

Yes, it is very poorly presented!

[@mariakordas-fraser5674]

I must admit that Carl Bildt's lecture is very articulate and explains a lot of recent history. Sadly, I missed seeing" the little green men" as the camera was focused on the speaker, not the screen.

[@moigospodin4155]

I am from Ukraine. Look please Oliver Stone Ukraine on fire.

[@kathleendillon1447]

I missed out on understanding of just what I was looking at because I needed to see a map as well as other visuals.

[@epic1049]

@@moigospodin4155 Lmao, you are not Ukrainian. "Ukraine on fire" movie is full of putinist lies.

[@moigospodin4155]

@@epic1049 THIS IS YOUR ARGUMENT??! AM FROM DONETSK REGION. IN THE FILM ALL THE FACTS AND FULL VIDEO EVIDENCE. NO, NOT ALL, UKRAINE KILLED 14000 PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE OSCE! Then enlighten me, o great people, show me the real truthful propaganda.

[@epic1049]

@@moigospodin4155 Donbass did that to themselves, you made detention camps for POWs, women and children where you tortured and beat them, you bombed the shit out of Mariupol with the help of Russian armaments and now you go whine about "Ukrainians are the bad guys" give me a break. "The Ukraine on fire" movie is filled with misinformation and exaggerations. They exaggerate the influence of the Ukrainian far right for example.

[@PeyoteVisions]

No mention of US or UK even once. Do you expect me to believe that there was no interference from these two "democracies "?

[@camillep9346]

.???

[@JBigjake]

Interesting comment by the Norwegian at 36:45 that Bildt had personally rebuffed Putin’s comments about Vladimir, saying “What does a Scandinavian prince baptized in a Greek city have to do with the Russian world?”

[@joeybacker8429]

Yeah teach the russians some proper history lessons, instead of Zzzzzhit War Propaganda 🇷🇺👎

[@nickduxfield4324]

Even a small foray into the history will reveal that it is very complicated.

[@mcelravys]

Best analysis I’ve heard yet.

[@edward9862]

Peace for Ukraine.

[@steviebegood6719]

And for the whole of planet Earth too that suffers from war from those that profit from Satan's wars.

[@stephenhickman304]

Any chance of an update please Carl Bildt ?

[@gwenfooteprints]

Not interested in seeing the side of his face, but would like to see the visual aid photos.

[@alanwilson2073]

Cameraman was brain dead in that regard, very incompetent, extremely inept and should never ever be put behind a camera again!!! Ever, ever, ever!!!! What an idiot!!! Completely lacking in critical thinking skills!!!

[@jfkim7435]

As Carl Bildt stated at 28:00, "Mr. Putin's greatest achievement might well be that he lost Ukraine." could not have been more prescient about what happen 2022 Feb 24th.

[@76rjackson]

Putin seems to be demonstrating that if Russia can't have Ukraine, then no one can, including the Ukrainians. EU needs to step up.

[@rd264]

@@76rjackson its a bit more than that. its about the confrontational politics of the west as well. Lets also examine why Putin invaded and why the West intentionally risked this when it deliberately threatened Russia by expanding Nato eastward in the last decade -- now ukraine is being destroyed by russia but the west brought this on. No great power [america or russia] accepts armed threats on their borders

[@76rjackson]

@@rd264 NATO is a defensive organization. Russia wanted to join it, too. Your argument is based on propaganda.

[@RikiTikiTaviXVX]

@@rd264 That is ridiculous. Putin knows perfectly well Nato wouldn’t attack Russia. His true concerns are about expanding the Russian empire and not allowing the Ukraine to succeed as a more modern, west-oriented alternative to Russian cleptocracy.

[@balafama2120]

@@rd264 Nato didn't expand like a balloon , former ussr countries wanted to join cos they hate russian dominance and lack of political freedom. . and putin just demonstrated why they all wanted to join Nato

[@jomellon]

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in March 2018 awarded many billions of USD from Gazprom (Russia) to Naftogaz (Ukraine) in an arbitration proceding. Here we see a former Prime Minister of Sweden at a Naftogaz conference in June 2018. Why did Russia agree to Sweden for arbitration? Because they trusted the Swedes. Questions: - how are the business and financial prospects of Naftogaz today? (June 2022) - how are the business and financial prospects of Gazprom today? (June 2022) - would the Russians trust Sweden today? - is the international level of trust for Sweden today (June 2022) greater or smaller? - Bildt says (June 2018) Ukraine must work on its endemic corruption problem: June 2022 has it improved? - how much Russian gas is flowing over Ukraine today? how much will flow in 3 years time (say 2025)? - how much Russian gas will flow West to Europe generally in the future? - the 2018 arbitration was regarded as a great victory for Naftogaz. 4 years later can it still be regarded as a nett victory? - assuming Ukraine still exists where will it source its energy in the future? At what price? - are we moving to a world were the possession of actual commodity resources is more important than control of international relations?

[@teviottilehurst]

Good lecture but there is a delayed synchronisation of the images shown . Rather frustrating. Was the camera person not concentrating? Ruined it for me.

[@Tindallhall]

I imagine it is an automated camera - hence not seeing slides.

[@gregory_michaels]

Putin certainly watched this lecture and took notes: 28:48 "no way!" 32:12 "hell no!!"

[@user-pf7xk7ey4v]

Puutiin - means "wood" in Finnish. It's not Russian surname. Voldemar Puutiin is a slavic-speaking finn-hungarian man.

[@Dearth_Vader]

@@user-pf7xk7ey4v more finnish disinformation, he was a west german defector by the name of Waldemar Schutten

[@Silver_Prussian]

@@user-pf7xk7ey4v it literaly comes from the russian word пут that means road or way. Stop with the pseudoscientific theory about the russians being fino ugric or mongols thats a lie created by a polish guy in the late 19th centuary becauee he hated the russians literly has been proven wrong so many times

[@Olexandr-jb2rs]

Оу! Дуже дякую за цю роботу. Дуже важливо допомогти людям розібратись в історії України

[@rodjarrow6575]

Подяка за чергову типову євро брехню! Однак брехня ніколи не допомагала розібратися хоч у чомусь! Тому що брехня існує для того, щоб все було навпаки! - Відповідно до старовинного римського євро закону: : Хочеш вбити ворожий тобі народ з початку напиши йому нову історію, не таку, якою історія цього народу була насправді

[@ninopavkovic9382]

Never expect a diplomat saying the truth.

[@adoatero5129]

Be cautious of people who speak in absolutes...

[@MrDeicide1]

@@adoatero5129 When crossing train tracks, look both ways

[@victorg2700]

Kievan Rus - created 8-9 century(Ukraine) - Muscovy union(Russia) was created in 12 century as a Slav and Mongol tatars mix since then the battle continues until today...

[@enquire422]

I think Bald and Bankrupt does a better job in explaining Russia and the USSR.

[@ivannisevic6685]

Of course it's different, the history of Kazakhstan is different as well and no one said otherwise, but we can also say that there are common core elements that connect Ukrainians and Russians. Are the differences greater than commonalities or do these common things matter more? This is a game for crazy or manipulating politicians to play, but they play with our lives. The problem with Putin, just as with most such nationalists, is that he is both right and wrong. He could have used his ideology of brotherhood to keep Ukraine connected with Russia, but he used it to spread death and destruction instead.

[@allan2765]

Great post.

[@marcosmelendez09]

If I may add, this remotes back during the time of imperial rusia. Ukrainians have always had a national identity. Sure there are commonalities between ethnicities and slavic culture but that is pretty much it. Russia always treated Ukraine as second class country, including the forced Holodomor caused by Soviet Rusia mostly on Ukraine where several million people died of famine

[@ivannisevic6685]

@@marcosmelendez09 'Soviet Russia' didn't do anything to Soviet Ukraine. It was the USSR government and Stalin, who was Georgian, that caused the hunger. Millions of Russians died of hunger as well because the crazy agricultural policies weren't targeted specifically at Ukrainians as a nation. Just look at the map of where people died during 'Holodomor'. It was the grain-producing areas of both Ukraine and Russia that suffered due to madness of the communists. It wasn't the Russians that went about the Ukrainian villages, taking all grain from farmers, it was the Ukrainian communists. Every nation was formed at some point in time and then they evolve and change. When the Cossacks had their Hetmanate in what is now Ukraine, they didn't think of themselves as Ukrainians or Russians, they thought of themselves as Cossacks. Modern Ukrainian identity is very novel, compared to other European nations. One of the problems with Ukrainian nationalists is that they hate the real history, so they invent their own. Very typical in post-Soviet Eastern Europe.

[@DonaldJUnruh]

@@allan2765 aa

[@tonyetzu]

The common elements that connect the Russian people to the people of Ukraine is fabricated by Russia. The Ukrainian cultural identity goes back to the middle ages when the people were connected with the people from Poland, Finland, and Baltic regions, and has a cultural heritage connected with those people from the north, as well as Byzantium to the south. Moscow was still a swamp, the people were Uralic and Mongolic people. Western Germanic leaders in the 18th century westernised the region and its people, constructed new western style cities, and fraudulently presented Ukrainian's long history as if it were Russian. Ukraine's relationship to the Russia empire has been one of domination and oppression. In the 20th century, Russia migrated russian nationals to live in the region, which has caused problems for Ukraine in Crimea and the eastern region, Ukrainian Nationals were killed or exiled. Now Putin is conducting an aggression against the people, and we see quickly that Ukrainian people unite to fight these invaders.

[@jimgraham6722]

Pudin did a good job engineering brexit, thus creating an EU vacancy. It would be very painful for him if the vacancy was filled by Ukraine.

[@hansolo2797]

The best he has done was coup in Turkey against Erdogan. He lost a lot of support and got sanctions after that. He wasn't innocent from western point of view because of smuggling immigrants, but sanctions were a huge mistake.

[@98Zai]

I wouldn't say Putin engineered that, considering Aleksandr Dugin wrote the book on it.

[@casteretpollux]

The US had a hand in Brexit.

[@98Zai]

@@casteretpollux It's so damn transparent when SUDDENLY there are comments blaming the US for EVERYTHING. I'm sorry Katharine, everybody can see straight through you.

[@98Zai]

@@casteretpollux You're going to have to wait a few years at least, if you don't want it to be so damn obvious. Even then, I can tell bias straight away, especially on reddit.. So it's nice you're at least switching focus.

[@olexkutikov9839]

Wait so Vladimir was not duke of Novgorog before Kiev !?

[@Zinaida.Z]

🤝👍

[@andriesgrabowsky2717]

May be the camera could be focused on the screen so we can follow the lecture ?

[@krystynadey7801]

Poroshenko was doing sweet business ( chocolate ) in Russia. Didn’t bother him that Putin took over Krymia. Just saying.

[@jangartsembel8073]

Excellent overview that showing the difference in rational between two worlds

[@angelarobb9571]

Can’t see the slides !

[@MrGolov-te5eb]

I wish I’ve seen this when it came out. I would’ve predicted war in Ukraine definitely. Karl Bildt is one of those riders of apocalypse where death and destruction follows him.

[@monikapatriot6265]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelsamuel9917]

Another Russian propagandist, nice try but your army is a tatters right now and getting worse...

[@MrGolov-te5eb]

@@michaelsamuel9917 I am not a Russian. I am not a propagandist and Russian army is not my army. However, I do have a free thinking mind. That’s not illegal yet. As far as the condition of either of the armies in Ukraine, I don’t have any information because I am not involved in the fighting. Neither are you. Your opinion comes from a propaganda outlets that have been feeding your mind. It happens to the best of us.

[@roki5941]

Yep.... Ask the people in Balkan,,, they know by experience.

[@mazepaanathema1511]

tell the foreign tourist to learn history and not forget about Poltava

[@ConatyP]

When he says that Putin would be remembered most for losing Ukraine…

[@str.77]

The jury's still out on this one.

[@elaineburnett5230]

I agree. No matter what the outcome Putin has lost the respect and trust of the whole world.

[@98Zai]

I will remember him for threatening to nuke me and my family. That is all.

[@Silver_Prussian]

Ahh yes losing we will see afrer two weeks

[@Silver_Prussian]

@@elaineburnett5230 there was a statistic that only like 36% of the world opposes putin.

[@bjorngve]

17.01 Discount not rebate I think he mean. In Swedish we say rabatt. Still I miss Carl Bildt, a strong leader personality. When he was minister of foreign affairs under Reinfeldt, people thought he was the prime minister. Reinfeldt usually kept a low profile.

[@mihai-dinulazarescu9124]

you can say rebate in English!

[@chriswindleydigitalsalesexpert]

Very interesting looking back to this. Thank you.

[@cubismo85]

He should do one about Lundin Oil and their warcrimes, which he had part of as he sat in the board of directors for Lundin Oil.

[@Auktioneronline]

IF he make money its great

[@casteretpollux]

Details?

[@TheLivirus]

Interesting talk. I'd like Bildt's opinion on whether NATO stating in 2008 that Ukraine and Georgia will become members had any important connection to their subsequent wars with Russia.

[@crhu319]

Most analysts do.

[@geoeconomics5629]

Read Zbignew Brzezinski The grand chess board page 76 77 he stated USA must take over Ukraina by 2015 before Russia recovers from Soviet Union collapse

[@miked9425]

@@geoeconomics5629 wow!

[@ursus9104]

It boils down to the crucial dividing line, are Georgia and Ukraine sovereign states? The international community says yes while Russia says no and that is the reason for the conflicts today.

[@TheLivirus]

@@ursus9104 No, it's not only about that, because Ukraine cannot join EU nor NATO without the approval of said institutions. If they said no, Russia would have nothing to fear about Ukraine independence.

[@Obezuanka]

And now, here we go 😔

[@alekshukhevych2644]

In the manuscripts, his real name was " Volodymyr". Same as the Ukrainian name for " Vladimir".

[@apollon6870]

whitch means vladi-rule and mir-world but in ukrainian world is svit so it should be volodysvit

[@licegod]

@@apollon6870 myr means peace in ukrainian language

[@licegod]

@@apollon6870 mir in russian language has two meanings peace and world

[@apollon6870]

@@licegod the name is old russian though and mir mean world in that language, peace would be pokoy

[@licegod]

@@apollon6870 how do you say peaceful times? mirnoe vremya, not a pokoy

[@TheManOWrath]

The history of Indiana is different from the history of Kentucky, too 🙄

[@jamesgreenldn]

Well when Kentucky invades Indiana come back and let us know

[@InqvisitorMagnvs]

California too in relation to America-a good analogy to Russia’s relationship to Europe.

[@sebastianrutkowski7316]

how clever not to show the map when it's being explained. a person is much more interesting then. gosh.

[@darrenknight8184]

It's very dry, I wish I could see the map as he was talking about it.

[@carlcramer9269]

Interesting to go back four years and watch this. I was not aware of the Russian attempt to conquer all of southern Unkraine back in 2014 and 2015.

[@76rjackson]

This man's command of English is amazing as is his depth of knowledge. His offhand characterization of the Dutch as stubborn is hilarious and true, which is one reason why I admire them so much, the other being their intolerance for bullshite.

[@3dml784]

ahah That " intolerance for bullshite" is the reason why Portuguese and Dutch governments don't get along that well.

[@balapillai]

When you say you admire the Dutch even though they are stubborn, I suppose you mean “steadfast” and “principled”. Perhaps “disciplined” and “not fickle” (won’t buckle upon a decision even if it becomes unfavourable to them) too. In short, the Dutch are more #first_principles driven. Please correct me if I am mistaken. I wonder if that helps account for the vast difference in attitude to first principles between the Indonesians (background: ruled by Dutch) and Malaysians (background: ruled by English).

[@76rjackson]

@@balapillai Excellent linguistic dissection of the term in question. "Steadfast" indeed! Regarding that attitude influencing another culture: I've often pondered the effects Spanish culture made upon the Philippines, so I'm aware of the phenomenon you are highlighting but I am not familiar enough with Indonesian or Malaysian cultures to notice what you posit in those contexts. If I get a chance to travel there again, I'll try to be more discerning. Given what can happen to a culture under a foreign power, what you suggest is plausible. Chinese from Hong Kong are very different from their mainland countrymen, or they were, and it's no doubt that their long association with the British is the main reason for that.

[@markbantz9699]

Bala Pillai what bullshit!😂😂😂😂😂

[@shar3066]

Oh that's why dutch and swede get along so well 🤣 We really dont have the patience to deal with the french, englishmen or Russian. And the siesta people...lets not go there.

[@tomgooch1422]

Bildt for president!! How long it's been since I've seen an articulate, competent, experienced statesman...from anywhere talk about anything. Bring the adults back to the world stage everywhere.

[@RaysTrack]

True. Another good watch is 'Former MI6 Chief On the Ukraine & Russia Conflict | Oxford Union'.

[@cieslaolsztyn8266]

Ms Estonia was his child. What did they transport on that night? Military equipment from russia?

[@Wloppish]

He’s a Soros puppet,

[@CJFCarlsson]

That is what we thought when we voted him prime minister. He is a globalist with no loyalties and would sell his own grandmother if she was still marketable.

[@patrikfloding7985]

@@CJFCarlsson He's much older and wiser now. And in his defence, Sweden was firmly on the way to being a socialist nutcase at the time. Times change.

[@SS-je9ue]

No it is interlinked... no matter how much you try.

[@predragmilisavljevic14]

Karl Bilt? No way. Perhaps it is better to choose Hillary Klinton.

[@crhu319]

The 1991 vote was under threat of a coup, similar to the 2014 Crimean referendum. Neither should be taken as a sign of sentiment without considering also the pre-1991 vote where 75% of Soviet citizens voted to keep it together. Nor the fact that Crimea has been electing Duma representatives for eight years.

[@crhu319]

@icky Vicky as I said, an intimidated vote under fear of USSR military coup..reactive. It's clear that easily 75-90% in Ukraine in 1991 ever wanted separate competing armies in two states fighting each other.

[@deborahhoover9730]

I am grateful to have had found this today. Very interesting history lesson.

[@davidharper5578]

spread and share it with the maniacs who thin this is about the soviet union lol

[@CZOV]

History lesson? Its entirely fabricated lies.

[@patrikfloding7985]

@@CZOV And your evidence?

[@stephanieburlak2661]

@@patrikfloding7985 Just check out every statement he has made: not even a convincing liar. You'd think he is speaking to naive children. And here people are impressed? The level of education must be very low in schools these days! Too busy trying to work out personal pronouns and gender!

[@Digmen1]

Yes I wish these camera men would show us the screens, we can see the speaker as much as we want.

[@PattiWilson]

sound quality was not great

[@petartrajkovski465]

Oooooo the god old IMF "reforms" , yes for the benefit of the people, how cute ...

[@jezalb2710]

Worked in Poland..

[@kanweiwu7339]

Vladimir the Great was a Swedish, not a Slav.

[@brendabrass2715]

Great speaker 👍

[@stephenarmiger8343]

Very happy to see the transparency of this! Very good to see the date of this talk.

[@henri9109]

1:00 "Those were the days." He is obviously referring to the dates on the presentation, but hearing his accent I can't help but laugh as if he's reminiscent of the good old days.

[@berendharmsen]

He was definitely being ironic there and you're supposed to hear it as ironically talking about 'the good old days'. So his joke worked.

[@NechaevDmitry]

Interesting historical view with a jump from year 900 to year 2000 with nothing in between. Sets the auditory on the desired track.

[@str.77]

You mean the 1000 years that Ukraine was largely part of Lithuania, followed by several partition and a policy if Russification, followed by two World Wars and two totalitarian dictatorships watering the country with blood?

[@comment6864]

50% distortion

[@whimpypatrol5503]

You have to watch your video graphers like a hawk anymore because, after setting up the show and getting the front of house nob levels adjusted, they just set on their butts while the video camera 🎥 rolls. They will not follow what you are pointing to on the screen.

[@Celtic2Realms]

An interesting and educational talk to understand the 2022 war thanks

[@olivertaltynov9220]

This one much better for understanding: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKOwmoaHdqyCiZY

[@EricaNernie]

Judging by the number of Russian trolls in the comments section, they only like one interpretation of history: Putin's. One day they might come to appreciate the benefits of looking at things from a different point of view, just to explore ideas and expand the mind. But not till Putin goes, I suppose and democracy comes to Russia.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

You mean America will bring lovely democracy like they did in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan? Looks lovely

[@pawelpap9]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 By America you mean a continent? Do you mean South or North?

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@@pawelpap9 well, North America has trained and I stalled nasty fucked up dictators in just about every country south of Mexico to serve the US needs. So you know what I mean. Look up school of the Americas

[@pawelpap9]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 Canada is North America. So is Mexico and Greenland. I strongly suggest you consult a world atlas and make up your mind.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@@pawelpap9 Greenland is self governing Danish territory. You're welcome

[@yukitogawa7675]

💐🌺Best video. Thank you.

[@atlanticist4763]

Astonishingly hubristic from one of the High Priests of Liberal Europeanism. I wonder if he's got such a swagger now ?

[@franceleeparis37]

Thanks Carl… now we know how far the Russians are prepared to go… better prepare my food stockpile..😏

[@kdssi648]

WTF!!!!!?

[@NUMMEHARBEN]

Please do not have such a low volume.

[@regolith1350]

What’s worse than not showing the presentation screen? Showing only the left edge.

[@cameronmcarthur9951]

Enjoyed this lecture.

[@c4sh3w]

Aside from the content, it is interesting this is coming from a company which is invested (along with Shell) in the gas deposits in the Donbass region.

[@stephanieburlak2661]

Thanks for the information. It helps to know the background of the person. And I thought him being a Swede his animosity to Russia goes back to losing the war in 1709.

[@maxviking3210]

@@stephanieburlak2661 no, we live in 2022, don’t you? What a king and a tsar did 300 years ago nobody cares about, at least not in sweden. Do you seriously think we are grumpy for that? Sweden been in so many wars and lost some and won some. If the outcome of each war would decide what we are today… that is mental and just plain stupid. And if it did, why are Sweden and Denmark in a joint exercise, working together, right now? We fought and lost many more times to Denmark then Russia.

[@osk9013]

This was a very interesting presentation.

[@marcusaurelius5837]

It suddenly dawned on me that Vladimir and Voldemor must be etymologically related.

[@leifandersson8754]

It is Valdemar being an ancient nordic name that corresponds to slavic name Vladimir.

[@k.p.5066]

Waldemar is a German name...Many tribals of german ancestry settled in eastern parts of the world. The rus where one of the tribes settled in later called russia. So was Waldemar, wo origined from norway. It's quite sad how we all splitted apart.. just look at England. Did you know that english people of today were all saxons? You guessed it right- they are another german tribe who settled abroad. How many centuries fought people, brothers and sisters against each other for centuries. It's sad to See all this war Just because of some warmongering, power hungry elites...

[@patrikfloding7985]

@@k.p.5066 "that english people of today were all saxons" The GB people, and English as part of that, is totally mixed. Celtic, Normand, Saxon, etc. Most European nations are very mixed.

[@Jakob_DK]

@@k.p.5066 It seems obvious that part of the population in England origins in India :-) And even the Sutton hoo artifacts (year 500 AD) originated in India. Globalization is not new.

[@discuss2130]

@@k.p.5066 English are not all Saxons - but many also descended from Angles, Jutes, Danes, Vikings, Normans, Celts, Romans and in more recent times many other different nationalities as well. Your simplistic assumption is incorrect and clearly quite un-informed about our early English inter-racial history.

[@stephanieburlak2661]

At the 1991 Independence Referendum: "Yes" in Crimea was only 54.19 (with a 60% turnout of voters in all Crimea); the lowest for all regions!

[@michaelshore2300]

But it was YES

[@dusancville]

@@michaelshore2300 when you have election / referendum with 96% usualy it gets followed by civil war

[@adoatero5129]

- ”"Yes" in Crimea was only 54.19” If that number would have been for ”No” votes, would you have used the word ”only”?… - ”(with a 60% turnout of voters in all Crimea); the lowest for all regions!” You end that comment with an exclamation mark, but don’t explain us where the sensation is. In Donetsk ”Yes” votes were 83.90%, but the turnout of voters was 64%, only a little higher than in Crimea.

[@michaelshore2300]

@@dusancville What ???

[@purpmint3116]

WRONG. Google "1991 Crimean sovereignty referendum". 94.30% voted YES on re-establishing the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Ukrainian politicians cancelled this motion.

[@ikmansuri]

In India we have culture differences are at every region, that doesn't mean it is not a nation. DIVERSITY IS A SPECIFIC TRAIT

[@awonoto]

So, unification with Bangladesh and Pakistan, when?

[@malekseifert9909]

The guy is the war monger idiot

[@AmenAmenAmI]

Deflecting the final question somewhat when he says, ‘Ukraine’s energy policy has been a mess,’ ‘a dependence that has been insanely dangerous.’ Apply that to Germany. The Baltics have decoupled from RU gas much more easily. The Ukraine ambassador to Norway was spot on.

[@Loveisreal77]

Baltics still buy the Russian gas . They say they don’t , but then once a week some leak pops and reveals that they still get the gas from Russia . It’s normal for politicians to say one thing and do the other.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

Well... we are coming to an understanding, that Carl did NOT understand the danger of becoming dependant of russian gas. Being a politician he dodges the question. He also is in charge of Lundin petroleum. Unless he has stepped down recently. But what influential person, apart from Lukasjenko could have guessed that Putin would try to recreate the Soviet union? Good luck with that.

[@Walrider2033]

Some experts within and outside of Russia have been analysing this development for years now. A lot of influential people in Russia (many of which live abroad now) have been sounding the alarm about Putin's ambitions since the early 2000s. Of course, nobody took them seriously and now we have this mess to deal with.