Cormac Smith - Negotiations for Putin only Provide a Pause for him to Rearm and Attack Ukraine Again

Cormac Smith has worked in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for over three decades. Before moving into the government sector in 2000 I spent most of the 1990’s managing media relations in the pharmaceutical industry. He has held several senior communication management positions in local government, and Whitehall departments, but in 2016 travelled to Ukraine to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor’ to Pavlo Klimkin, then the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. He was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. While in Kyiv, he also advised and provided training for five other government ministries and worked directly with three other cabinet ministers: Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. In addition, he worked with The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine and the NATO mission to the country.
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[@eskilolsen3783]

This is one of the best conversations about the war on Ukraine that I have listened to. I wish that I could listen for 10 more hours. This should be broadcasted on prime time TV all over the world. I struggle to grasp why this is so difficult to understand for many people, as well as media and politicians.

[@christinemartin4276]

I feel the same should be posted everywhere 🙏🇦🇺👍🏼

[@18_rabbit]

yes. the reason it's not is a combo of several factors including some older folks, ironicaly especially conservative ones, who still see Ru as a superpower, even tho it's not even a third tier country overall now, and it's military is not particularly capable, per the mil experts in the West and many others. Ru is regarded as a paper tiger, and thus how we military face it and finally vanquish it, will determine how long the Ukr's infra and ppl get killed, tortured, (incl a LOT of torture , e.g. half of the big city of Kherson was tortured, bcuz those strong ppl....would...not...succumb! These are the strongest humans on earth, i attest! Let's demand our leaders support Ukr fully and prepare for whatever hyperaggressive behavior is done by Ru against us, ongoinginly!

[@yurilytviak9066]

Good points regarding the biden’s administration outright perfidy . Beyond disgusting when looked at sanely .

[@tamarasidlartchouk3138]

Absolutely!

[@offgridliving5190]

I totally agree, more people need to hear this.

[@Grant_S_M]

Amazing guest and episode. Thank you Jonathan and Cormac.

[@jannichi6431]

Have you read Lev Parnas' book?

[@Grant_S_M]

@@jannichi6431 I haven't

[@lyndonlessey9883]

MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, MR. SMITH UNDERSTANDS!!!!👍

[@davidrabbit2239]

Very good interview. Pity these sort of discussions are absent on national tv.

[@susiea1419]

Why would they be? It’s important to feed us all rubbish and keep us dumbed down so we don’t ask questions and rise up! We get “not” news like Brittany’s concerts etc or Glastonbury headliners. Makes me crazy. I go to Euro news , Al Jazeera or CNN to try and find out what is going on!

[@davidrabbit2239]

@@susiea1419 very good susie

[@Bodge-hz9ry]

It made me sick when the headline news in NZ a couple of weeks ago was Justin Timberlake was arrested for DUI. Meanwhile people are dying in this pointless war

[@maghdean]

Dear Jonathan and Cormac, thank you both so much... 🙏💙💛

[@JanStageman]

This mans words are like a breath of fresh air !! Bravo Cormac Smith 💝 You speak truths that those decision makers who should have expressed them a long time ago, should speak them now, loud and clear, for all to hear !! Ukraine should be given the respect and the weaponry it so rightly deserves. Slava Ukraine 💙💛

[@andrewthomson137]

excellent!

[@peterc4082]

Has Britain investigated all the Russian investments in London and the like?

[@0nFoot]

I could listen to Cormac all day long. He hits every nail firmly on the head when it comes to Kremlin propaganda and the insatiable appetites of Putin and others despots around the world. Thank you for setting up this enthralling conversation, Jonathan.

[@dbsteckey]

I really appreciate Cormac Smith’s insight and contribution to this podcast.

[@Steve-gx9ot]

He us a mo day morning quarterback trying to pretend he is a prophet! What an ego to say things like this. He us not perfect and has no power to make anything happen. Just an old has been or wannabe

[@mosesk2216]

All people in the West need to listen to what this man said: "We need to see Russia through Ukrainian eyes". This is the only truth that matters today. Everything else is secondary. Thanks so much for this quality content. This channel should have millions of followers.

[@Blanka1100]

I am Polish and it pissies me off everytime I go abroad for vacation and waiter in a restaurant greets me with his basic russian language skills. Western Europeans never stopped looking at Eastern Europeans though Russia's eyes. They hardly cared about our agenda, safety and rights in all of this. It was always about Russia' agenda and "not poking russian bear". It was always about keeping your western comfort zone. It was always about whataboutism. What would USA did if....bla bla bla...Well, USA is a super power. Russia is not. Not anymore. And we are free people, we are not soviet backyard. We do not have to care about Putin's excues.

[@mosesk2216]

@@Blanka1100 I have similar experience, you speak the truth!

[@wlhjr77]

I've listened to many talks regarding Ukraine in the past two years, but this was by far the most eloquent, passionate and well delivered. Thank you and very well done.

[@tamarasidlartchouk3138]

👏👏

[@MM21-EDM]

Amazing work gentlemen. I wish the main stream media in Canada and usa would hear these reasons why we need to support Ukraine. People over here have NO idea !!

[@CynthiaBlair]

Cormac Smith, GREAT interview! He's right on all counts! As a student of Prof.Snyder's Yale class on Ukraine, I remember chillingly his Oct 29, 2022 lecture at Boston U - "The War in Ukraine and the Question of Genocide: Genocide is underway. If we don't see it, the failure is ours." I love all his work, but that one is etched in my memory. We can't turn away from Ukraine, and I'm angry about NATO and how slowly Ukraine receives weapons and every nonsense red line (that allows Putin to have sanctuary and dictate the rules of engagement.) From the very start of the invasion it angered me the way we in the West treated Ukraine, like they were beggars for aid, when in fact, WE OWE THEM (Budapest Mem) and we owe them so much more, for their intelligence and courage and amazing inventiveness. Ukraine has so much to teach us. They are a force for GOOD in a world that now lives in the shadow of Mordor. 💙💛

[@tamarasidlartchouk3138]

Parole sante !👏♥️

[@Save_UA]

True that😖

[@normandduern2413]

Cormac Smith here is the most powerful example of heroically contained righteous anger combined with ice-cold lucidity that I have ever seen. Applause , and respect.

[@prepper_nation_h]

I sensed that, too, but didn't know how to describe that aspect of his persona as eloquently as you did.

[@brigitte2217]

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 🇩🇪

[@djparn007]

One of your best guests ever. Thank you, Jonathan. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@bertbruins1232]

Amongst all the impressive speakers on this channel, Cormac has been the most impressive of them all. Spot on and impactful.

[@tamarasidlartchouk3138]

Huge gratitude to Cormac Smith and Jonathan. Cannot agree more with Mr Smith . Appeasement management...💙💛👏👏👍✌️✌️♥️♥️♥️

[@2serveand2protect]

Quote: "The APPEASER is the one who feeds crocodiles, hoping he'll be eaten last. (Winston Churchill)" That's going straight ino "my favourites"! Absolutely fantastic quote! :)

[@tyman3331]

Any kind of ceasefire on putin’s terms will show him that he can continue doing whatever he wants unpunished. The international community should not back down now!

[@carolwilliams8511]

Sadly so many otherwise intelligent people are falling for orc BS.

[@beataszrom1462]

Very empathetic and in depth approach… All so complicated and … so clear at the same time Lack of leadership in the West; Lack of …empathy and lack of political will… How much more can those poor, innocent Ukrainian people take…,

[@agustinussiahaan6669]

Thank you, Jonathan. Keep up with your efforts battling corruption, Ukraine. Warm support from Indonesia, the country with corroded corruption.

[@paularivero1878]

Great, moving touching interview. Thank you Jonnathan and Cormac. You make it very clear: the only way to end this war is Ukraini defeats Russia. Not US appeasement at all. Putin attacks the golden principle of a rule-based order: the international recognized border of a sovereign state must'nt be changed by the use of force. Slava Ukraini❤❤🇬🇧🇬🇧🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@treesetc3305]

Fantastic conversation. Cormac is a superb communicator. 🇺🇦

[@KingRaccoon747]

Amazing stream !! Such an informed guy !!

[@SiliconCurtain]

Glad you think so!

[@mariaantoniettapelo4028]

absolutely stunning guest ❤Thank you. he said all the things I always thought but with his firsthand knowledge. Russia waged this war for two reasons: for money and for fear of democracy. If you are a tyrant and want to stay in power, you need money for your servants and no poor neighbor who gets rich in democracy by setting an example to your people.

[@jamesreid8638]

It's never been about peace. It's always, about control, the fleeting hope of stability for a small man.

[@carolwilliams8511]

He is a paranoid little coward.

[@NadNorgaard]

Right. We had peace! Germany connected 4 pipes of Russian natural gas - who would connect to an enemy, right before you plan to attack them? It's also not about Nato. Nato have been in the Baltics for 2 decades - 150 km from Sct. Petersburg - with hardly any military hardware....

[@19angela71]

Words of the true gentleman!

[@jasonkay8749]

The guests on your programme are always incredible people with a depth of knowledge that provides wisdom to all and I am certainly wiser for understanding Ukraine, Russia and US politics behaviours. As a Brit living in Australia now, today’s guest helped me to relate things to how the UK situation would be perceived that Ukraine are now in. This channel is without a doubt my best means with which to interpret the cowardly behaviour of the US and gives me some confidence in the EU leaders. But so much more immediacy in action is needed following sometimes the weak words of our leaders. I hope Ukraine is provided prompt appropriate behaviours and tools to restore this proud country to full democracy and a full member of NATO.

[@edjones3390]

Cormac was a great guest hope we see him again soon! Thanks Jonathan! 💛💙

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@Eagleplume-qb4bi]

Excellent Podcast! Thank you both. Slava Ukraine. 🦅

[@michaellaurence9966]

Probably the best discussion on the situation in Ukraine I have listened to up to this point 🇿🇦

[@gregwatkins2525]

Hey Jonathan thanks for the info you guys had a nice chat today with Jake bro your guest is one of the best you've ever had he is saying what so many of us have known from the start we should have honored The Budapest agreement an ejected Putin from Crimea so many would still be alive and not kidnapped and tortured total failure on the part of all our countries in the West Slava Ukraine

[@SiliconCurtain]

Absolutely. He’s definitely coming back on!

[@18_rabbit]

entirely agree! As Fiona Hill said in her interviews two years ago or later, this war signaled a catastrophic level failure in what we call international politics, including the efforts of the West. I've not since done deep reading, i.e. books, but hope to do so, to learn more about how military strategy and posturing works. I do sense that the U.S. withdrawing our mil ship from Black Sea, may have been a mistake, especially in conjunction w/ Biden's strangely worded (and overly elaborate/detailed) stmts in the months before the invasion (about what the U.S. would and wouldn't do--he specified it would depend on how big in invasion. But then the invasion WAS maximalist and yet no US mil involvement! So it's really strange the way Biden speaks etc-- he is a horrific speaker, tbph, and i'm a diehard suporter of him naturally, for obvious reasons (of US politics)

[@susiea1419]

Finally someone who is intelligent and talks absolute sense. Shame you are not our PM!

[@carolwilliams8511]

Shame he isn't in Sullivan 's job.

[@andrewk4319]

A truly enlightened man

[@Northcountry1926]

And neither was Adolf … Learn your history America !

[@yurilytviak9066]

It shouldn’t require so much effort to not hate such a ridiculous ‘people’ …. This is at least the third time in a century that america was equanimous about the mass slaughter of east Europeans , especially Ukrainians ,

[@thomasmyers9128]

Chamberlain waving a piece of paper seems to come to my memory from history class…. Learn your history

[@christinemartin4276]

One of the best interviews I have seen Please watch🙏❤

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@cmbergersct3492]

Great interview. Infuriating. Thank you.

[@malcolmanspach2035]

True words have been spoken. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@RichardD-jf1ko]

Putin-Peace not to be used in 1 sentence

[@jimr3094]

Cormac Smith speaks with experience and uncommonly good judgement. Thanks Johnathan for your excellent selections of outstanding guest speakers, expert questions and support for democracy over tyranny.

[@bobouzala]

Cormac is a whirlwind! bring him back. “ALL IN Ukraine” 🇺🇦💙☀️🌾🌾🌾🌻

[@John316OBrian-cm4fj]

He's a west Brit

[@SylviaBolton]

Thank you for the great informative interview ….., I hope we open our eyes soon to this selfish despot and his cronies

[@richardmcknight3650]

Absolutely clear, precise no messing / hedging around the truth, when one hears it like it is, it makes so much sense. I wish politicians would learn from his school, the majority of them sit on the fence & when they finish we are never any wiser. Brilliant interview -- we need more of these simple truthful views, What a joy to listen to & so informative.

[@NyPer920]

Thank you Jonathan, another great guest! Very informative.

[@lyndonlessey9883]

THE SCOTUS AND THE COTUS DOES NOT COME WITH CLEAN HANDS EITHER. HOW DARE THE US EXPECT NON CORRUPTION IN OTHERS.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Exactly.

[@CatherineReilly-h4p]

Considering America is the world leader of corruption

[@robertmiskey5502]

Cormac Smith is a fantastically knowledgeable guest. We need to hear more from him! Thank you for bringing him on to your show.

[@glennpearce7093]

Thanks Jonathan and his amazing guest cormac very interesting but very sad that our western governments don’t fully understand.

[@yurikasperovich5664]

Thank you, Jonathan, for these smart, compassionate, kind, and humane guests.

[@nomoss9600]

Thank you Jonathon, nice to see the live today as well.

[@catherineandpaulfuters2523]

Thank you for your coverage and insights 🇪🇺🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦🇬🇧

[@msvergara]

excellent guest and interview

[@eddiegoodman9267]

Thanks for the update and views 🇺🇲🇺🇦 Oklahoma USA 🇺🇦🇺🇲 Thanks for the podcast

[@TeeganDuckworth-ko6vs]

Gr8 discussion guys ❤❤

[@williambrown5966]

Great to hear somebody from my part of the UK doing such good work.

[@martinchamberlain542]

This has been the most eloquent and informative commentary on the Ukraine war I have ever heard. Cormac’s words should be compulsory listening for every western politician, but especially those in America. We must support Ukraine to the hilt, or our children will have to deal with the consequences.

[@DarkestAlice]

Thank you, Jonathan and Cormac Smith, for this very insightful conversation. I hope, you will continue it in future. 🇺🇦 Перемоги та миру всім українцям! 🇺🇦

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@DarkCriimes]

Excellent interview. Thank you 🙏

[@Freetospeak71]

Ukraine should publish a monthly “Corruption Cleaned Up Scorecard” and a “Foreign Aid Transparency” matrix to make its accountability very visible and public.

[@cmbergersct3492]

The USA should, since we're withholding air support for opaque reasons.

[@hamjudo]

As an American, I think we could use a little Ukrainian help dealing with corruption at the highest level of our judicial system.

[@jannichi6431]

🟥

[@arek7198]

Thank you very much for your program, your doing Verde just for you can and than for all europe and democratic world.

[@andywilson6463]

This is such a brilliantly powerful discussion on what is happening and it should be shown on national TV and in educational establishments everywhere. Congratulations.

[@RayPostolowsky]

This conversation needs to be shown on all TV channels over and over again. It should also be shown to our royal family. Completely refund the BBC if they do not play ball.

[@carlreeder1856]

One of the best yet sobering pieces on this conflict. Great work johnathan.

[@prepper_nation_h]

Really excellent discussion. That was some good straight talk about the dynamics between Ukraine, Russia, and the West. Top content! Great work, gentlemen!

[@slideguitarblues]

Mr Smith... I am impressed. Nothing more to say.

[@holon4662]

This interview has been a blast. Cormac Smith is going to be among my most favourite speakers on this channel from now on. Great talk!

[@stevenjohns-savage7024]

Thanks guys 😁. It's great and interesting to hear youz talking about this. Keep IT Up 😊

[@HenningOlsen-t4l]

Smith is simply excelent !!--henning olsen , Denmark

[@zacharyrobertson6944]

The Ukrainians are like wolves, cunning, cautuious, and fiercely protective of their territory.

[@loudtim265]

Maybe Jake Sullivan should look around himself. A quick peek into the Supreme Court might give him some perspective.

[@stephenhill545]

He's a lawyer. He thinks in terms of mitigating risks. It doesn't work that well with dictators who are obsessed with ninth century history.

[@stephenhill545]

He would have feared the consequences of Nazi Germany collapsing, or the Soviet Union.

[@Eagleplume-qb4bi]

Thanks!

[@randyhergenrether6914]

WOW, great broadcast

[@sailawayteam]

US would never for a second give sanctuary to any enemy behind their borders. And never has.

[@MKSense1]

Because you don't realize that some enemies are from inside of USA.

[@sebastianthomsen2225]

slava ukraini ! 🔱💙💛🌻😊✌

[@minoramare5829]

Thanks, for your job, for helping us, and especially for your point of view. Its very accurate.. unfortunately it's a real genocide, and we are facing with it again and again.. and i hope this time we will reach a justice, at least . Greetings from Ukraine 😢❤️

[@Freetospeak71]

Incredibly thoughtful and cogent discussion of the geopolitics regarding Russian criminal invasion. And the current status.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@chrishubert4377]

Corpach Smith, the first man I've heard , talking any sense regarding the Ukraine war. Nice one mate. 👍

[@Joe44944]

Slava Ukraine! Great show.

[@Antiwumao]

100% Agree

[@cmbergersct3492]

The best persuaders use examples that people can relate to. This is also what zielinski always does. This guest is expert at having you imagine what it would be like and pointing out how obvious the conclusion should be

[@johnnywalker4490]

Peoples of the World, Should HEAR this Fellow !!!

[@johncromwell2529]

Great interviews

[@thedeadmoneyallstars]

Can Cormac get himself sat down in front of anyone from our new government?

[@MrBudgiejoe]

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@lilUrso11]

thank you for sharing your experiences in Ukraine

[@petefrys545]

Great interview, very revealing

[@inzhener2007]

If Putin was serious about peace, he would never invade Ukraine in the first place

[@jonathanstein5049]

He is serious about bringing back the terror of the USSR

[@amorosogombe9650]

Imagine a burglar still in your house saying, "let's negotiate about my noving into your basement". The very fact that the Putin regine cannot see the temerity of their offer just goes to show how dyed in the wool Russia is in criminality.

[@stephenhill545]

They believe in might is right. Morality is not important to them.

[@jannichi6431]

Trump to follow IF elected🌎🌍🌏

[@eddiegoodman9267]

Great Podcast

[@barnesthomas69]

Should speak at UN

[@irongron]

Mr. Smith is a very interesting guest, a great man and a great discussion, much appreciated. When you mentioned "escalation management" and he corrected you and said it was appeasement, I will mention to all readers in your defence Jonathon, that you also have called it this for a long time, ditto for myself too. Another thing that jumped out at me was Mr. Smith's mention of "s different form of communism under Tito", well in Yugoslavia at that time we could travel freely, own a small business and farms remained in private hands, there was no disastrous "Sovkhoz" or "Kolkhoz" collective farms. Keep in mind that Tito broke with Stalin and left he Soviet Bloc in 1948 successfully (unlike poor Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Hungary in 1956). And lastly, I don't think we are ever getting the F-16's. We were supposed to have them last new years, now mid year, this month. It's never gonna happen. Thank you Jake Sullivan and Samuel Charap (massive sarcasm). 😐

[@2serveand2protect]

...if I may may!... U(k)raine! Pls! - correct the title - thank You. PS. As for the rest - 100% spot on.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Fixed! Thanks.

[@2serveand2protect]

@@SiliconCurtain Oh!... Thank You! Have a nice day. :)

[@EvaDfromBohemia]

Briliant conversation& analysis

[@aircvr4175]

Russia uses tanks. Russia loses tanks. Russia replaces those lost tanks with older, refurbished tanks and lesser-trained tank crews. Those older tanks aren't going to accomplish MORE than what the newer tanks managed. If Ukraine simply plays a patient defense, then its battlefields turn it into Russia's Vietnam.

[@terjeoseberg990]

This war is far worse for Russia than Vietnam was for the United States. Russia is squandering everything they have trying to advance. By the time this is over, Russia will have no military and a destroyed economy.

[@VorbildRoß]

Supporting Ukraine’s success is Western Europe’s best security! Go Ukraine Go, May God be with them (all Ukrainians) in their fight for FREEDOM!

[@frankshifreen]

Love your interviews- Anything you say seems to be interesting

[@theeducationalcyclingsyndr517]

❤

[@AngusAbbott-qf8xm]

Great insight by the guest, the Americans will most likely NEVER put their soldiers in the Bradleys , they could all go to Ukraine and save lives 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇺🇸

[@jarmosalonen2068]

Good video and speaker.

[@lyndonlessey9883]

JAKE SULLIVAN HAS HIS DIRTY HANDS ON EVERYTHING!!

[@stephenhill545]

It's what happens when your office is closest to an ailing president.

[@jannichi6431]

Sullivan has been slight partisan for years.,🩸 Biden and NATO need Ukraine victory for many reasons. Democracy #1.

[@jannichi6431]

He's been a slight and coy partisan all his career🩸

[@ninemoonplanet]

"Cowing" ducking and weaving, procrastinating, however we see the various countries, including 🇨🇦 my own, it's pathetic. Especially knowing the Ukranian people are trying everything they can to succeed. Political cowardice.

[@ninemoonplanet]

A more apt analogy would be the USA invading and occupying 20% of Canada, with the US using nuclear weapons as a threat, Canada becoming the pawn. Would that "world order" do anything, or treat us as pawns? Russia could use a tactical weapon on us, and we're not a nuclear power just like Ukraine. Are we pawns too? 🇨🇦😖