Russia, Putin, and Ukraine in 2024 with Fiona Hill

This week’s Brussels Sprouts discusses expectations for Russia in the pivotal year ahead. As we approach the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine this February, how is the Kremlin viewing prospects for success going forward and the West’s capacity to sustain its support? Moreover, what is the potential impact of further instability in the Middle East, and how will Russia cultivate its relationships with China, Iran, and North Korea in 2024? With the upcoming elections in both Russia and the U.S., moreover, there is also much to consider regarding Putin’s domestic hold on power and the implications of American results for Russia. To address all of this and more, we’re pleased to have Fiona Hill with us on the podcast.
Fiona Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe within the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She also holds the position of chancellor at Durham University in the United Kingdom and was recently elected to the Harvard University Board of Overseers.
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[@simonphelps3680]

So great to hear from someone who is so well informed with an historical perspective. Rare these days. The history of the Russian Empire is dark and turbulent. And unpredictable. Haven't heard about Father Gapon in a long time.

[@andybroomfield4041]

Fiona Hill is a incredible speaker. Really enjoyed this👍👍👍👍😊

[@Sammenluola]

Like always, Fiona Hill is spot on. As a Finn I am desperately hoping for a large scale, meaningful, and urgent military capability build-up in the EU. In the worst case scenario we might only have about 2 years to do it, while Ukraine has only months without the aid from EU and US and other allies.

[@hmmm2564]

Lol this woman was so wrong about Russia

[@Diquydiq]

​@@hmmm2564It is all about US' indoctrination-propaganda policy all over Europe! 😊😊😊

[@robgrey6183]

We gave you your chance. There are vast c*m*teries in Europe full of young Americans from two w*rs.

[@panglayman5576]

Since you joined NATO I have been reading up about the Mannerheim Line and Simo Häyhä !!! It makes one wish the war were in Finland instead of Ukraine. However, there is still a chance Putin's ego will make him dumb enough to try avenge Stalin's failure leading to a decisive defeat. Finland could end up annexing Saint Petersburg if your government plays it cards right. Pitiful to see Germany, France and England cowering in front of Putin, Sanna Marin won't !!!

[@hmmm2564]

@@jimpatrick1316 lol, I did. And she has been WRONG

[@Moppup]

LOVED this! Ms. Hill is a shotgun blast of information personified.

[@seb4462]

Fiona Hill's insight into the political dynamics at play in the Kreml as well as on the international diplomacy stage is amazing. Moreover, she talks in an informative and very accessible way for the average informed citizen. Listening to her is a pleasure and will make you a smarter person afterwards.

[@misterjones7929]

Superb analysis from Fiona. Thanks.

[@AmricanEagl]

I never heard of Fiona Hill before but damnn! She’s very knowledgeable in geopolitics, history, geography…. I enjoyed every minute of her interview!

[@bobsmith1614]

The depth of knowledge and expertise of Fiona is astonishing. The insights into Putin's mind is of particular interest and deserve serious exploration by professionals in the field of clinical psychology. Go Fiona !

[@tekannon7803]

When asked what if American forces were on the front lines in Ukraine facing the Russians and how would America go about going for a counteroffensive, General (Ret.) David Petraeus said that before one soldier crossed over to attack the Russian front lines, America would make sure it had air superiority, then B1 bombers would carpet-bomb the minefields. G-9 Bulldozers would be sent in to take out the dragons' teeth and do what bulldozers do by flattening out embankments etc. Then ground support aircraft like the Warthog fighters with 50mm cannon would make mincemeat of fleeing Russian troops to the rear of their operations. Then Apache Attack helicopters would be sent in to take out artillery batteries and troop carriers and fight off Russian choppers. Meanwhile, F-16s would be strafing everything and anything that moved and take-out long-range artillery batteries and the like. Then and only then would American soldiers be given the green light to begin their counteroffensive. Fiona, do you see what I am getting at? The Ukrainians had a few dozen tanks, shoulder weapons like Javelins to take out enemy tanks and Bradley troop carriers, but not much else and they went for their counteroffensive and got the expected low-yield results because they just didn't have the firepower or air superiority. It would be like a prizefighter going into the ring against his rival with one hand tied behind his back. Let's be real: the Ukrainians have been fighting a war against a superpower on the fly. Sure, they are an A-list country in that the soldiers learn fast, but drones may be good for a lot of things, but let's give the Ukrainians what is needed to win a war!

[@larsmathiesen]

Well put indeed.

[@alex990ism]

ya

[@matsfrommusic]

Very well said.

[@mitchyoung93]

Lol.

[@bubbajones6907]

Among many flaws in your delusion, the most obvious oversight is the fact NATO aircraft require bases to operate from. As is universally recognised, Russia has the advantage of "escalation dominance", in other words, all your bases belong to Putin.

[@LiamArthursGTR6]

THIS WAS EXCELLENT - any issues with the speed of speech -read the simultaneous transcript.

[@nickowchar2001]

A good conversation between Hill and the interviewers about the internal dynamics and pressures of Putin's world. The interview doesn't give a lot of time to Ukraine, but it does paint a picture of the whole governance situation in Russia that does help with the context of its invasion of Ukraine.

[@sowelie1]

Fiona is very good, a pleasure to listen, even as I dont agree with some.

[@seanmellows1348]

Great stuff from a well researched and clear thinker. It’s not encouraging though, is it.

[@mikelanglow-bi2sv]

Fion Hill is a national treasure-❤

[@patclaffey3854]

very interesting conversation, steely eyed and factual

[@martinMD]

I listen a lot to Fiona Hill when online so I'll listen to.this to see what it's like

[@mikeklein4949]

Thank you for all of your with your intense thoughtfulness.

[@lorbori]

Fiona, unlike most of her colleagues seem to know what the shot is. It is for that precise reason she has hard time justifying an official party line, in hope of future prospects of another state department job.

[@coopoylozenge5964]

Impressive lady. Useful insights from a Washington insider with academic rigor.

[@earlaustin6025]

My thinking is,will the US rep-house from ukraine vote too help her people,vs the maga trumpsters😢

[@paulyoung4422]

It's all up to Trump, to do the decent thing and Disappear.

[@lynnwalton814]

Excellent conversation.

[@gregorydesleskine3413]

An American ballerina was charged with treason in Russia for donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity. Ksenia Karelina moved to the U.S. from Russia about 10 years ago to pursue her dreams of becoming a ballerina. She now lives in Los Angeles and works as a manager at a Californian spa. Ksenia traveled to Russia to visit her family, a decision her former mother-in-law says she may live to regret.

[@hmmm2564]

Hmmm like Snowden and Assange

[@JohnMHill-oi6rb]

Keep it up, Cuz; you are doing fine! John M. Hill

[@dalenkindred1139]

Where is the video?

[@DaveOz-mx5oh]

It's just an interview...

[@Rndmflw]

Excellent interview.

[@crimeajewel]

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥️

[@garybreen3447]

Good video.

[@kenzubko9636]

When was the last time a country paid war reparations after the war ended?

[@simonphelps3680]

Europe does need to be more self reliant. Also perhaps the USA also needs to understand that it is an empire. Again no one notices because most of it is in one land mass.

[@dannydadog1987]

USA is an ex-empire, but if you meant Europe, FU. You just insulted every single European, especially those bordering Russia. Never come to Euope if you like your teeth, utter moron.

[@dannydadog1987]

Who is an empire? US or Russia? Or maybe Latvia? What's that magic only you out of 8B idiots can see?

[@fronabulax63]

Is this the follow up from PNAC😅 In fact this is the PFTOTW. Project for the end of the world😅.

[@ewartmouton]

"Russia would view further (NATO) eastward expansion as a potential military threat" "In Ukraine, these include fears that the issue could potentially split the country in two, leading to violence or even, some claim, civil war, which would force Russia to decide whether to intervene." "Not only does Russia perceive encirclement, and efforts to undermine Russia's influence in the region, but it also fears unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences which would seriously affect Russian security interests." 1 Feb 2008, leaked cable "RUSSIA'S NATO ENLARGEMENT REDLINE" by William Burns, former Ambassador to Russia, current CIA director

[@maria_D111]

I stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦 Brave people, historical country

[@looinrims]

22:50 so anyway back to Ukraine, please?

[@robertrechter6729]

Ok with Fiona up to a point. Europe should défend itself. yes. But a) the only time article 5 of Nato has ever been invoked was on 9/11 for the benefit of the US b) the almighty dollar and reserves that all Nato countries have benefit highly the US allowing its huge defence budget and c) if Europe gets invaded and taken over by Russia, democracy and European wealth no longer benefits the USA that will then have a huge opposition block under authoritarian rule.

[@tomrecane6366]

a/ If NY could be attacked then London, Berlin and Paris are vulnerable. Article 5 didn’t only protect the US. b/ Defense spending benefits defense industries. Without nationalization there is no way around this. Painting it as some kind of moral failure doesn’t work. c/ I’m not sure what you were trying to say here.

[@jonnyfranks5879]

Watched

[@HNH421]

how very tedious for you - i just watched , for one second then - i just used my ears for the rest of the show -

[@bob___]

Regardless of who the American president is, the prospect of a negotiated end to the situation in Ukraine is limited by the fact that there is there doesn't appear to be a potential negotiated end state that would be self-enforcing. On paper, the 2015 Minsk accord was a decent start, but Russia abrogated it when it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Without a way to guarantee Russian compliance with a negotiated resolution (and there doesn't seem to be one), even a North Korean situation, with an armistice but no peace treaty, isn't feasible. Thus, it may be that the best we can hope for in Ukraine is a protracted conflict, which may become more low-level over time.

[@user-ec7kz6yz1d]

😂😂😂 1. Россия не могла его аннулировать, так как не являлась стороной соглашений. Минские Соглашения были между режимом Украины и представителями от Донецкой и Луганской народных республик - читаем документ, а не то что кто-то говорит. 2 Вас ничего не смущает в Вашем сообщении? Договор от 2015г. Вдруг Россия 2022г? Уточните пожалуйста, что делала Украина 7 лет для выполнения своих обязательств? А что ещё интереснее, что Россия должна была сделать по соглашениям, участником которого она не является? Россия, Германия, Франция - гаранты соглашения.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@user-ec7kz6yz1dGoodnight, forever, Vatnik.

[@ldhorricks]

As much as I appreciate Fiona Hill's take on things...If there is one thing I don't like about discussions with her is that she interrupts a lot and doesn't leave much space for "interviewers" or hosts to speak.

[@kviljo]

Spot on. She's great, but difficult to stop, apparently 😅

[@nickowchar2001]

That might be true in other interviews, but not in this one. The interviewer has plenty of time to lay out her questions. It's a conversation with an expert: the expert should always be given the time to show their expertise.

[@robertaurens5665]

Fiona Hill military expert and never ever been to war.

[@zdravkoavdalovic3131]

Putin should negotiate on Fiona's terms,he he,fsrt

[@jmcw9632]

what an amazing lady, proud of her

[@vk-fb4ox]

Nice putin pic

[@looinrims]

That’s like his most famous pic

[@dannydadog1987]

The best bit about it: it's him before he practically became an oppressive dictator (around 2011) and the Russian words below says a thing people been singing since before then while most in the "West" didn't yet knew who he were: "Putin is ~ a dick"

[@raiconlan1]

There's no reason Trump doesn't send military aid

[@RonLWilson]

Perhaps a compromise might be Crimea could be made an independent country that has UN peacekeeping troops, that includes both western troops and Russian, while Ukraine joins NATO and sanctions on Russia are dropped..

[@grahamstrouse1165]

No. Hell no.

[@OrwellsHousecat]

😹

[@robinmuirhead1158]

Putin's Birthday October 7... Hamas Attack on Israel October 7 Coincidence?

[@boonedockjourneyman7979]

Some of us think watching an old fool get lost on stage is The Abyss.

[@paschaff-dahom]

Fiona always spot on ? (small talk about human tragety or only verbal diarrhoea) Think about to work in a WAR-HOSPITAL two or three months. That could be the way to refresh your mind about humanity. O since the collective West prides itself on moral- Superority, think about it: Western countries are grappling with the question of whether frozen funds can be confiscated and used for Ukraine. Up to now, the following has applied: according to international law, state assets generally enjoy immunity protection. This now appears to be changing. Could be 2024 the year of the THIEFS

[@henriikkak2091]

How do you feel about Russia nationalizing Western state and private assets?

[@lucysteiner4556]

I take Russia seriously- if you don’t why not?

[@lucysteiner4556]

Wrong about the special military operation in 2022.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Who is the ‘ We’ you keep talking about…

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Who are “you,” little troll?

[@jeanlabrek8454]

__ Ever seen the Oliver Stone interview of Mr. Vlad. Putin and movie, seems you did not.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Why the eff would anyone listen to that old paranoid lunatic? He was a great director but his brain is broke, Vatnik.

[@SteveBene]

Yes Trump is full of himself and so what. He has forever been the same. Is there anything new?

[@garethmartin6522]

That's why it was obvious he was the worst possible person to have political power.

[@SteveBene]

@@garethmartin6522 Didn't he fulfill all his promises? No new war under his presidency. Salaries increased for the lower. Built the wall.

[@HNH421]

infideuse anglo birds - cry havoc ,,,,,,,,,,,, 💋💣,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,❤,,,,,,,,,,,,,,💛💙

[@michaelvainer3350]

Black stripe-----2024----2025.

[@looinrims]

21:24 I’m horrified to hear people are more afraid of orange man being orange than a guy who literally threatens nuclear war and oversees war crimes

[@Thesebjustseb]

I totally agree. Also note her logic: "he wants to be the big guy... [at the top of the] power vertical" - so our presidential candidates should be saints who don't want the job. Egoless servants of the people, like Biden, right? On a further note: "He wants to be the big guy, doing big things" - we sure wouldn't want a president who does big, important things like an 80's style arms treaty

[@dennisschwartzentruber3204]

@@Thesebjustseb / Giant follies from a petty, little man !

[@looinrims]

@@Thesebjustseb it doesn’t even matter if it is or isn’t like Biden, it’s just nonsense all around

[@nigelmorley5414]

putin nuke threat is bluff, 100% bluff. Trump is such an idiot he is more dangerous than putin

[@grahamstrouse1165]

It’s such a shame your parents relied on the rhythm method for birth control.

[@alexandertimoschuk8470]

Please explain the beauty of Russian cities. Please explain what is in Ukraine that Americans want.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Please explain why your mother didn’t abort you.

[@henriikkak2091]

There is nothing in Ukraine that Americans want

[@lucysteiner4556]

No grey zones? How is that ever possible? Get real

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Only the one you live in.

[@plasticjock1090]

It's a very great shame you didn't get any questions in. It's very had work to listen to a diatribe..

[@lipgloss202]

That was a very american view of Europe.

[@markmorris1105]

Putrid the Great ...😂😂Failure

[@user-wu4sm9zo6w]

Maybe, Putin is concerned where Western European politics and social issues are heading. His country is waking up from the oppression of Communist tyranny for 80 years, and he doesn’t want Western Countries making an excuse to invade Russia. Ukraine shouldn’t have played around with Western Europe. Ukrainians could have enjoyed a decent life with a little humility when dealing with Russians, and still maintained their freedom with neutrality, like Austria did after WW2.

[@marisabenson1222]

That is not freedom and in fact a precarious position much like Belarus. And take your humility and .....Why should Ukrainians be humble. They are courageous in their fight and it is those who gathered in The Maidan Square who will take their country to great heights. All empires crumble as will Russia's and the US. Russians overestimate themselves, maybe it's them who need humility.

[@user-wu4sm9zo6w]

@@marisabenson1222 “The result of humility and fear of the LORD is riches, honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4

[@grahamstrouse1165]

MAYBE, he’s a doddering old fool leading a decaying medieval Empire full of drunks.

[@henriikkak2091]

Nonsense

[@bark1actual785]

Well they became useless as soon as politics got brought up

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Goodnight, little Vatnik.

[@Putins-mustache]

Weak analytics, shallow conclusions , sometimes stupid 😀

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Sleep well, Vatnik.

[@Putins-mustache]

@@grahamstrouse1165 Thank you for not freaking out 😀

[@nyarian835]

nothing quite compares to pituns genius unfortunately

[@viking722nj]

After listening to podcasters who are reporting what's actually happening to russian oil infrastructure, the Black Sea Fleet, and Crimea, this woman just sounds like a clueless hack

[@dannydadog1987]

Who are you listening to that contradicts anything she said? And what has analysis of state and history of the region to do with recent tactical actions in Ukraine? Where you see the point worthy of bot-like discrediting Fiona, who is one of the most correctly educated on these topics (better than 99% of similar 'western experts') anglophone-born original "western" officials? I can only see one point of writing these senseless seeds of doubt, and it's Roubles. Or am i missing something?

[@jackkelly335]

How can this lower-class useful English idiot who doesn't have a stem maths education proclaim herself to be an expert on Russia, especially the military. Is she getting her information from the Sun tabloid?😂 She's being exposed as the propagand fraud she is. 🤡

[@lucysteiner4556]

He is legitimate. He is an elected leader with 80% approval rating.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

😂😂😂

[@pawelradecki3893]

Fiona Hill, excellent as usual.

[@mitchyoung93]

Its strange that a civil servant, not a superhigh ranking one at that, thinks she is entitled to slag off her elected boss and his policy preferences like this person is doing here. Her job was to find a way to execute those preferences. And had she done so I believe 200,000 plus young Ukrainians would be alive

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Back under your bridge, little troll.

[@SteveBene]

Tons of generalisations, few if any facts.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Nighty, night, Vatnik.

[@alexandertimoschuk8470]

Fiona has an axe to grind. Her objectivity has been left at the door. Russian expansion is an American concept.

[@nyarian835]

can't be as objective as a russian coming to sneed on american interviews

[@dimarusanov6107]

That is not tremendous at all. She is very well informed, but almost all the time she just tells only one part of history. Dangerous lady

[@LiamArthursGTR6]

Unlike yourself - hse is learned !!!

[@lucysteiner4556]

You’re in the past…

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Funny you should talk about being in the past…

[@lucysteiner4556]

Commentators have been saying for over 12 months Ukraine can’t win. US keeps pushing ukrain to continue and their people keep dying.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

No, Vatnik fascists have been saying that.

[@lucysteiner4556]

‘Nothing for Me Here’. Bye

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Nothing for you anywhere.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Where the hell do you get your info from? He has an 80% approval rating

[@grahamstrouse1165]

😂😂😂

[@lucysteiner4556]

Completely insane commentary.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Putin told us what he wants… listen to his interview. He tells us in his speeches and interviews. Yours is such a shallow biased analysis. No wonder the US/Nato has lost this one. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@ingimundurkjarval8581]

Fiona Hill is talking pure propaganda and would hope any sensible person can see that

[@joelsullivan1248]

You know nothing Jon snow

[@jefflanton5617]

Theres so much disinformation in this video.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Nighty, night, Vanya.

[@johnm7267]

There's so much false information here. For a start Russia outnumbered 3 to 1 by the NATO trained Ukraine army took 20%. of Ukraine in just 6 months and still retains most of it. Then we come to Russian troop losses. It's Ukraine that has lost the most troops and has nothing to show for it. Ukraine's counteroffensive failed with massive troop and equipment losses. Fiona Hill can always be relied upon to say what Western media wants to hear, that is why they like her

[@Toto-no3mv]

Where is the false information? Pretty much everyone in the world (except for yourself apparently) agrees that Russia had a massive numerical advantage over Ukraine in every category, and still does. Nearly all their advances occured in the first two weeks of the war, and they have since lost a third of that. You can see that by looking at a map. Nobody is denying that Ukraine's offensive last year failed, or that now the situation is stalemated. As for losses, again just about every reliable source agrees that, overall, Russia has likely taken higher losses so far, although we won't know for sure until this is over.

[@LiamArthursGTR6]

How did you feet this troll job ??

[@LanaW123]

The fact that you instantly switched tge topic to Ukrainian loses indicates that you are рууzкий ор*-к 😂. Only Russians do that. Ohhhh!!! Look!! But the neighbor's cow has died!!!

[@mikes300]

Wow turn off tucker and get some facts.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

You’re either a troll, a traitor, or you’re suffering from a traumatic brain injury.

[@SteveBene]

You know nothing about the Chechen wars. During the 2nd war the Russians were invited in as they were invited by Syria.

[@lucysteiner4556]

I don’t know how much longer I can listen to this. It’s so full of mis information, ignorance. Hyperbole. What are you taking?

[@lucysteiner4556]

Fiona is totally discredited with this nonsense…. WTF. Not intelligent analysis at all. Crazy

[@RightSideNews]

Just another trump hater podcast

[@grahamstrouse1165]

You mean a rational podcast.

[@lucysteiner4556]

US leaders or potential leaders compared to Putin. What a joke. Putin is such a great leader. And I have no skin in the game or particular bias. I have just been following geopolitics for 50 years…

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Goodnight, Vatnik.

[@norinretrescu2474]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣what a clown🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Goodnight forever, little troll.

[@norinretrescu2474]

@@grahamstrouse1165 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lucysteiner4556]

And how many Ukrainians are killed and maimed? And how many millions fled overseas.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Ukrainian recruitment- pull people off the street.

[@lucysteiner4556]

You have really swallowed the Kool Aid- bizarre commentary.

[@MrVaticanRag]

Professional Propagandist seconded from HQGC to Uncle Sam

[@raduradu2015]

Talk more clearly Fiona! You are eating words Really hard to listen to you! Take some DICTION classess!

[@guycharles9105]

If you want to criticise language be careful with your own language. The words are DICTION classes

[@raduradu2015]

@@guycharles9105 thank you! Took into consideration your kind observation ! Nevertheless... Its my writing not my language!

[@branscombeR]

Fiona is a great talker and has deep knowledge of her subject. I just wish I had a dollar for every time time she said "you know ... " !

[@raduradu2015]

@@branscombeR great talkers and great birokrats... that don.t have any clue about what putin has in mind to do... All this great talkers got surprised in 2014! Lots of talks and lots of coffee podcasts.. while tousend of people die every week !

[@HNH421]

@@branscombeR i would rather have "you know " over vocal fry .........

[@regrees3706]

More misleading content. Ukraine has lost this conflict. More denial and coping to the realities on the battlefield.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Such a daft commentary…

[@grahamstrouse1165]

You have a lot to say about it, though.

[@stuartwilliams-fw4vo]

The preposterous Fiona Hill.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Your intel is flawed.

[@lucysteiner4556]

Do you know your ill informed or are you knowingly lying?

[@b.f.e6810]

Alot bs

[@vladimirskvortsov3881]

What bs is this mumbling?