If We Want to Defeat Putin: We Must Understand What Makes Him Tick

[@AlexNelson-p8c]

Oh yes, Putin is very religious. He believes i money and power. As for his ambitions, one has to know history. Way back Kiev Rus was the dominant princedom as opposed to the Muscovites. However when the Mongolians invaded this land for 200 years the Muscovites cozied up to them to get a leg up on Kiev Rus and others. The Muscovites internalised the invading Mongolian character (conniving, vicious.....) and subjugated others around, istan countries and locals peoples of Siberia. Since it is a known fact that Ukrainians were the dominant people in terms of engineering, agriculture and their strong wills, Putin feared that Russia would not be as strong without Ukraine. As the Russians stole the name `Rus` from Kiev, now they are trying to steal their people. However, the little Napolean of Russia will not succeed. In fact, the Russian federation shall be dissolved at a not too distant future.

[@donaldmackerer9032]

Let's hope you're right.

[@sheilawade433]

Putin is an international war criminal. He stole 20,000 of Ukrainians' children.

[@morethanovercomer]

Мечта dolbayobov 😂

[@barbarar1169]

“What Putin Told” you is what Putin wanted you to tell others. We don’t need to “understand what makes Putin tick” to defeat him. We (the West) need a clear goal, the men/materiel to achieve it, and the resolve to see it through.

[@Κώστας-τ9μ]

You the west ... Right Here , we must thank the Russian foreign minister mr.Lavrov With the beginning of their illegal invasion against Ukraine, the man mentioned about the Cyprus issue and how all those western countries hypocrites are still have their eyes,ears and Mouths completely shut about.. Western countries hypocrites !

[@oddoni]

Spot on. No one needed to understand the deranged reasoning of Hitler for the holocaust in order to stop him. Putin is no different. His reasoning is that of a madman, no one needs a sequel to Mein Kampf.

[@dinaf1409]

Exactly!

[@paulfaigl8329]

What a nonsense. It must come from a real snowflake ❄️

[@Koz4concern]

That’s how we take over the world! Good point

[@normdyer94]

rationality without empathy is a sociopath. No normal person could murder every day for years running.

[@coriolan1963]

Well said!

[@romanszefler7479]

Right ✅️ hope you talking about murdering people from dombas sice 2014

[@robinmuirhead1158]

Just another War Criminal

[@Ravenought69]

Thats what every us president does every day...

[@simonmeszaros2770]

@@romanszefler7479 yes them too. Russian military operation in Donbas went wrong as a consequence people are dying on both sides. Sad but true, thanks for bringing this up.

[@marie-v2j]

putin, smart??? No! putin, religious??? No! Evil??? Yes!!! Slava Ukraini forever!!!💪🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇬🇧

[@Save_UA]

The way he managed to divide western democracies and undermine them from within is not an act of an idi0t but a very calculating monster.

[@lupusdeum3894]

Smart = conniving. Religious = sanctimonious. Evil = diabolical. Слава Україні ! 👍

[@andyhurrell]

If he looks, talks and behaves like a psychopath then I imagine that makes him a psychopath. Being a psychopath would not exclude the possibility of him also being very smart (as indeed many psychos are) but if he was a very smart psychopath his SMO wouldn't still be ongoing 850 days after it should have achieved its original aim of taking Kyiv by storm. OK, so he could have been be bluffing from the outset; maybe he knew all along that it would take more than a couple of weeks to conquer Ukraine (smart?) but so far he doesn't seem to have demonstrated enough smarts to reverse The Motherland's descent into economic suicide. So, psychopathic but not so smart?

[@Save_UA]

@@andyhurrell smart enough to wage a war within democratic societies without them having any clue till it was too late. The clear steering to the right wing lunacy just showed during eu elections. 20years of divisions sown within each and every country, tailed to each one of their individual weaknesses shows me he’s very patient, sure psychopathic, but smart nevertheless ((

[@Save_UA]

@@andyhurrell smart enough to wage a w@r within democracies for over 20years, without them having any clue, till recent eu elections show a clear slide into the right w!ng lun@cy; tailoring and exploiting the individual weaknesses of each and every society to sow divisions, surely is psycop@tic, but smart nevertheless ((

[@bearowen5480]

This is a remarkable interview with a man, Dr. Ilarionov, who was once a member of Putin's inner circle, and in a unique position to judge the character and motivations of this enigmatic dictator, Putin. Thank you for this opportunity to see inside the vertical power structure that now rules ruthlessly over the once liberated but now reenslaved Russian people. This podcast episode should receive the widest possible disseminarion to those leaders who influence Western public policy and foreign relations.

[@hansericsson7058]

For me its pretty hard to think that a rational being should do what he is doing in Ukraine right now.

[@mikaellindroos1594]

He is a idiot. What positive can you found from the war for Russia.

[@LowenKM]

True, though between waltzing into Crimea w/ no obstacles, and now being backed into a corner and surrounded by a buncha yes-men... what 'choice' has he got?

[@hansericsson7058]

@@LowenKM Its all about regime security now, Putin hope that he can in some way say that he won and call it a day, then maby he can keep the regime together

[@andyhurrell]

Can someone be a rational psychopath, or are the two conditions mutually exclusive?

[@Save_UA]

@@hansericsson7058he can spin it around tomorrow, if he wanted to, with 2 game end possibilities: 1) his followers would take it in and accept it eventually. 2) there would be a coup. Now we all know how he HATES coups, unless he’s the one orchestrating them. So he’s not taking any chances that threaten him in any way. He chooses wār.

[@taghiabiri3489]

Mr. Illarionov delivers a description of a pure psychopath. We should take this very serious.

[@teardrop-in-a-fishbowl]

Putin is not a psychopath, he knows what he's doing and has control, he's a sociopath.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Psychopath, Sociopath and cult leader.

[@The_ZeroLine]

@ViralGossipBulletin-kc8pfYou sound super credible…

[@The_ZeroLine]

We already know he’s a sociopath. This is not news. Nothing he says is new. It’s just that Western leaders have been immune to learning.

[@PatriciaGoodsonpianist]

@ViralGossipBulletin-kc8pf wow you trolls are really having to stretch these days aren’t you?

[@GafferBob]

Remarkable interview.👏👏I would like to see an extended interview with Mr. Illarionov and his thoughts about possible succession or transition to the next generation. Will he follow Stalin's increasing paranoid reshuffling of potential rivals, while trying to stay atop Russia's dysfunctional descent into economic, diplomatic and military decline? What effect did Covid have on his mental state and information intake?What are the most important trends in post Putin Russia? Dating the beginning of Putin's imperial enterprise to 2003 is an incredible insight, that now seems to help explain much . Thank you for this thoughtful and insightful interview.

[@mosesk2216]

Great interview. Illarionov is one of the smarter people from Russian opposition.

[@janvandalfsen4123]

Much bigger turn out for voting in Russia than in USA. People didn't have to vote for Putin. Pro usa style free market "democracy" parties got a very low vote. People remember how they suffered when western advisors caused the collapse of Yeltsin's Russia and the plunge in life expectancy. They don't want that back, according to ANY reading of the last Russian elections. Navalny was to Russia more like Assange is to the USA,; in no way an opposition leader.

[@bbb1007]

Stikes me as way to egotistical....a problem with most Russians . He has not interacted with Putin for years. He does not temper has assessment with that fact but seems certain about everything which is BS

[@anjaseidl4003]

If he is a dictator, like cesar and others, then (according to history) his days are counted. Everyone knows that he is smart. But smart in an unsmart way.

[@rajlowkie6616]

Putin has SILENCE those who challenged his FAILURES.

[@matc6221]

Unhinged maybe

[@christiangodin5147]

Yessss.

[@miroperinich2495]

That he is smart is not. He was a secret agent (communist espionage) and that's the philosophy. In order to succeed, you kill or accuse all opponents and remain without competition. I lived in Communism and I know well how people think and work. Business is just a story.

[@TheTitaniumSkull]

Will not disagree about putler being very intelligent, he is in that small group of smart people that also have a touch of evil and insanity mixed in with their intelligence.

[@OneSkyWarrior]

I'd say he's touched.....bigly. Psychopath comes to mind.

[@Papi1960R]

Your ability to ignore reality and accept propaganda is exceptional. Embarrassing for every Veteran that you have an 11th ACR unit patch as your icon.

[@damienmurray3928]

What about the three American women (Victoria, Hillary, and Susan.)who spent the past decade (or longer) hatching a Machiavellian plot to remove Vladimir Putin from power. Recall the lines from Shakespeare: Fair is foul and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.

[@PoulNoergard]

Like the Austrian painter, you mean ..

[@Dr_MKUltra]

Russia has one! Lying to ourselves won’t help. Let’s make a negotiated peace to save the planet from Nazis and Zionists.

[@Aussie-Mocha]

Potin is KGB. He knows how to listen, speak and negotiate with anyone and he adjusts his approach accordingly. It’s not that extraordinary. Like a really good car salesman in charge of a country.

[@robst247]

Actually, a former taxi driver.

[@MijnMotoG60]

A good car salesman, who sells a rubbish car to ignorant people.

[@robst247]

@@MijnMotoG60 ... a car with only one gear still working: REVERSE.

[@martinekanji8537]

Does fab 300 work in reverse gear? ​@@robst247

[@matsfrommusic]

I must say there's been a good while since anyone said anything remotely new or interesting about this, great stories, insights and assessments from mr Illarionov, also the questions where really good.

[@ralphvandereb66]

So the gentleman introduces the concept of a very smart man consistent well studied and willing to listen to anybody, if we were not talking about Putin we would say this is a rare leader of some stature . Strange world , maybe we should take him seriously and not denigrate him to a psychopath because we chose not to understand him and his concerns . We need to talk not continue fighting. Have we forgotten the real cost of war ?

[@SnakeEngine]

"Have we forgotten the real cost of war ?" Pretty much never understood it in the first place, as people in power don't experience the consequences. If there would be a prescription that each child of the politicians would have to join the frontline, there would be no wars.

[@pandora8377]

" Maybe we should take him seriously. " That is precisely the problem. Dispense with the mythology and psycho analysis, he is just a man, the president of a huge multi- ethnic country that has emerged from the experiment of Communism and the collapse of the USSR . If Ukraine had had such a leader they would not be the destroyed country they are today. The west has ignored Putin and mocked his security concerns, armed his neighbours, surrounded Russia with NATO members with their military bases and missiles, imposed sanctions, and crossed so many red lines. Calling Putin a psychopath or a dictator is like a frightened child attributing superstitious powers to make believe monsters under the bed.

[@Mr.Monta77]

Hello Olga, maybe you should try a different job? You really suck at Kremlin disinformation.

[@PoulNoergard]

His former wife described him as a monster. That should do.

[@zipperpillow]

Well, she's a piece of work too, since she was drawn to that, so, keep it in your pants Ms.

[@martinshaughnessy3622]

As a martial arts man he was very yin..as a married man ?.

[@zipperpillow]

Consider the source. What do her girlfriends say about her?

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Ivanka or Melania?

[@tawagashaw]

Do you mean a sex monster?!!? 😂😂😂😂

[@josefnagy1697]

How he became what he is is totally uninteresting, the important thing is what he became, and that he became a madman is enough to know.

[@Andres_1970]

All these things Mr. Andrei is describing, including his (Mostly terrible) actions and it's religious or ideological "justifications, alliances, break-ups, etc. are IMO consistent with your archetypal Mafia Boss. It's just that. Only that this time the "Organization" has a Global Reach as never seen before, thanks to the use of the ex-Soviet Union propaganda and "Diplomatic" apparatus, and his access to Arms and Human Resources/recruitment of thugs is of a Whole-Country scale, and a very big one that is. And that is where we can find his origins and the environment that shaped his "adult" personality: a mafia-like organization that was, by all accounts, the KGB or whatever branch of the secret services he grew up in. That's what we are dealing with. Not Hitler, not Stalin even. Me thinks. He cherish and protects and worries about the same things that mafia bosses do. His inner circle, his wealth, his luxurious properties, etc. And his most precious one? The FEAR he can instill in his enemies, but most importantly in his allies and subordinates.

[@laharacapitalpartners8274]

Pure fantasy

[@Andres_1970]

@@laharacapitalpartners8274 Sure... and that is one more to the count. Trying to appear normal to the naked eye. "Nothing to see here !" Thanks for reminding that one to me. ! All the mafia bosses, except show-offs like Pablo Escobar and others have done just that. If this sound like fantasy to you, you are either very ill-informed of pushing for the narrative. Bye.

[@wayneschenk5512]

Something is wrong with him when he signs off on the killing of civilians.

[@KitJBenn]

Remember!! (putting your head in the sand won't help) KIEV AND THE WESTERN ELITES Conspired (February 2014) an anti constitutional coup d'etat and agreed to reject the Ukraine people's ballot box and democracy for the battlefield!! They also rejected the Ukraine democratically elected leader, 🇷🇺❤️Viktor Yanukovych,❤️🇷🇺 and they've rejected the Peace ever since!! Keep pushing 🇷🇺❤️ President Putin Sir 🇷🇺❤️ We love and respect what you are doing!! Returning Ukraine for safety and security reasons to the Great Russian Motherland!! We Know The Lord Is With Us 🇷🇺❤️❤️🇷🇺.

[@dinaf1409]

A bandit.

[@mirekslechta7161]

Which civilians? USA kille 1 mil people in Iraq and Libia, mostly civilians, bombed Serbia and many other countries, you need to find better source for your selfeducation about Russia.

[@chuckkottke]

Thank you Kyiv Post and Jason Smart for having Andrei Illarionov on your show. A very enlightening conversation.

[@ΟρέστηςΚαραογλάνης]

Glory to Ukraine

[@LjTodockin]

Ukraine!?

[@mav841]

🇷🇺

[@gladdie10]

Excellent choice of interviewee. Very detailed and accurate - in my opinion

[@dinaf1409]

ISomehow, have some doubts how super-accurate this is. I might be wriong.

[@Maria-pz5kd]

Not sure about Putin smartness. On big picture he is definitely not. 🤷‍♀️

[@bipolarbear9917]

He’s an opportunist. He managed to give the illusion of above average intelligence, but he’s a psychopathic serial killer on the largest of scales. It’s typical ‘Dark Triad’ behaviour: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy (which includes complete lack of empathy).

[@elektrotehnik94]

He's politically smart, in the context of gaining & sustaining a less obvious totalitarian/ authoritarian regime. Context.

[@dinaf1409]

I agree. What did he gain by invading Ukraine? A very long NATO borders with NATO (Finland and Sweden). It's the opposite of what he said he wanted.

[@paulfaigl8329]

You must be very 🤓🤠😤😀😯 🤓 smart. 🤓😯🤓😯

[@robinmuirhead1158]

He's just a KGB Stooge

[@mavrosyvannah]

For the youth here, those things in behind the speakers are called books. It's like a stack of hard copy tweets bound in paper. The idea is if you have books showing behind you, people will assume you are smart. 😂

[@samchallis448]

The interviewer’s books are a virtual background, the interviewee’s are real

[@kayrams1792]

It doesn't matter if they are real and virtual.

[@stephensuddick2557]

Let me summarize. He is without a soul.

[@war-painter]

Putin has no personality as well. The trouble is, he so longs to be another Stalin. And yet the cult of personality evades the wan, colorless individual who cherry picks a few winning battles from Russia’s lengthy history and then brands himself a “historian”. Bereft of any cultural appreciation, putin clothes himself in his KGB appointed russian appointed Orthodox priests trappings hoo-doo mumbo-jumbo, having fired all the real priests and appointed KGB officers in their stead. This canard that putin is “intelligent” is one I just do NOT buy. He is dumb as a box of rocks. Listening to him carry on with Tucker Carlson was more than enough for me, and that wasn’t one of the clones either. Putin, the master strategist, NOT.

[@misterserious3522]

excellent

[@andreamolnarova2185]

i saw a doc. where its stated Biden saying the same thing way b4 he became president

[@BCSTS]

Actually, like it or not everyone has a soul ! It is not a matter of opinion

[@misterserious3522]

@@BCSTS And its NOT a matter of opinion that some pay no attention to its proper care and maintenance.

[@overkill1473]

malignant narcissism -> wikipedia. Done.

[@dinaf1409]

Like Trump.

[@watchinglistening]

​@@dinaf1409 BUT CREEPY CORRUPT JOE BIDEN IS A WONDERFULLY NICE MAN! ISN'T HE.... JACK?

[@martinshaughnessy3622]

Malignant narcissist? Nulland

[@PrettyGoodLookin]

You do realize that the Western Ukrainians murdered 14,000 Eastern Ukrainians in 2014.

[@donaldmackerer9032]

Trump and Putin are very much alike. That's why Trump likes him. Putin, though, I think is smarter and could manipulate Trump very easily by playing on Donald's ego.

[@mikelanglow-bi2sv]

. Extremely interesting. The Kyiv Post host does a very good job. Questions that need to be intellectually asked and explored ❤

[@KeithRaymond-ux9db]

He has No Care for Humanity or Human Life!!!

[@J7463kl3]

Evil

[@liongordel9088]

You mean USA/Nato. Yes, they have no such emotion. Just look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Libya??

[@nobbynobbs8182]

@@liongordel9088 you're clueless

[@ginoperri2090]

Quanti anni hai ? Se hai 15 anni ,sei scusato ,altrimenti spendi un po di tempo sulle guerre americane. Ti do uno spunto 6.000.000,metà civili ,metà militari ,il resto trovali tu . PACE .

[@ginoperri2090]

6.00.000 mila

[@DominikGentener]

Thank you for this very interesting and informative interview.

[@michaelmazowiecki9195]

Once KGB always KGB. Putin was a senior officer of the KGB and its descendant the FSB. He headed the FSB before he became Prime Minister , then President. His inner circle is all exKGB. Russia is, in fact, KGBland. He has published what his strategic aims are. We would be foolish to ignore them just as people ignored Hitler's declared aims in Mein Kampf.

[@skvUSA]

Andrei Illarionov, Describes Putin as an another messianic nationalist, who sees "his people" Eastern Orthodox Slavs as a people with a mission to bring/save civilization on this way they have avenge and right many wrongs that happened to them over last 30...100...500...4000 yrs. So did many messianic nationalists before Putin with particular nods to Hitler and Xi Jinping.

[@kennypridemore5466]

You hit the nail on its head, putin sees himself as a shit head manmade Russian messiah 😅😂😅🎉🎉🎉 what bullshit !!!!

[@kennypridemore5466]

Every shit head leader wants to be the world's manmade messiah 😅😂😅😂

[@janvandalfsen4123]

The longstanding USA concept of their "manifest destiny" backing the conviction of always maintaining "full spectrum dominance" held by both major parties, is as nationalistic as anything else that exists in the world. This has led to more US invasions than by any other nation in the last century or so. Many in the US think they are God's gift to the world which justifies them interpreting rule of law in any way they see fit such that Israel can not be touched no matter what. Anyone who might compete with the US successfully becomes an enemy eg China. The US pumps money into pro US cadres (NGOs) in nations that don't want to be dominated by US power. When some nations object that even the US doesn't allow foreign money to manipulate its politics, the US foments revolution in those nations.

[@jimsound7888]

Vladolf Rasputler needs to be locked up and the keys thrown away

[@arikahn3907]

Super insightful! The observation that Putin has no principles and will use even contradictory arguments if they lead to the conclusion he needs explains a lot!

[@jameshunter2993]

Didn't Hitler blame others for his failings

[@stephaniemurria5534]

Trump to.

[@kennance115]

Hitler, I isn't he the one they couldn't' get out of bed on D-Day?

[@kennance115]

@@stephaniemurria5534 TDS ?

[@shabalalamartin]

The host he is very professional 👏

[@Sophiedorian0535]

Am I right in believing that Putin’s view on religion is somewhat similar to that of the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini?

[@senben9737]

Religion is the power of a tyrant against the idiots

[@Aussie-Mocha]

Or rather, same as Trump’s view on being a Christian 😅

[@misterserious3522]

A curiously Christ-free version of a pseudoChristian KGB powered Official govt theocracy designed to enrich those at the top by enforcing slavery of everyone else,

[@miroperinich2495]

Well, it's not quite the same. Religion in Russia is used to rule and in fact they are not interested in that except for the People.

[@Sophiedorian0535]

@@sebastianforbes1 Poor sod.

[@a0flj0]

I believe reality is much simpler. Putin is provenly not that patient, in fact. Had he been the person described in this clip, he wouldn't have his typical reaction of leaving the room when someone brings up human rights - this was filmed and reported by various people multiple times in the past, when he was still able to travel abroad without restrictions. Putin is also not that smart. Had he been, he wouldn't have miscalculated Ukraine that badly. It was pretty obvious from the beginning, in 2014, that aggravating Western style democracies worldwide, with their enormous, overwhelming economic power, was a stupid move. It was even more stupid to delay an attack on Ukraine for eight years, in the hope of the proxy low key war in the Donbas to destabilise Ukraine. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and this is exactly what happened to Ukraine. The eight years delay also allowed Western democracies to politically prepare, to the extent allowed by the slowness with which democracies typically move, for aiding Ukraine. Furthermore, he didn't bring all the cash he had prepared for the war home, before the war, which is why hundreds of billions of his stash are still unavailable to him, more than two years into the war. I believe reality is much simpler. He is a low level KGB operative brought to the top by Russia's centuries old culture of autocratic rule. He had some fixed ideas hammered into his head during his training and his years of activity in the KGB. He was trained like a dog to stick to a few rigid habits. He has no real moral values, besides those fixed ideas. That's all there is to Putin. Had Putin been really smart, he would have easily made Russia the world's top power, in his more than two decades in power. Russia is literally the biggest country on earth, geographically, blessed with more natural riches than any other country. In two centuries, especially based on his KGB training, he could have made Russia the most disciplined and educated nation on earth. With all the resources Russia has, that would have been a killer combo. Russia would have easily developed the most advanced, biggest economy on earth, and since economy drives everything else, this would have made Russia the top dog in every single regard, worldwide. Instead, he drove the Russian economy into the ground, opting instead for living off irrational exploitation of natural resources, completely destroyed any semblance of rule of law in Russia and disregarded education entirely. The fault for Russia's acts, however, isn't Putin's. Putin is just an effect. The fault is Russia's history. Russians have never known anything but autocracy. To Russians, democracy is weakness. Therefore, they always push a dictator to the top, and will all by themselves combat any attempt at democratizing Russia. Russians have never known a strong rule of law. The only law Russians know is the rule of the jungle. Therefore, had it not been Putin, it would have been someone similar to him. Now, an autocracy can never develop a strong economy. Strong modern economies are innovation based, and innovation is killed by corruption, which goes hand in hand with any autocracy. For innovation to thrive, innovators have to benefit from a strong protection of the law, against larger, better established, financially more potent competitors. In an environment with a strong rule of law, innovation becomes a major competitive advantage. In a dictatorship, it is dwarfed by political influence. There are many documented cases where innovative small Russian startups were literally stolen from their rightful owners by politically better connected competitors. With a weak and continuously becoming even weaker economy, it is inevitable that eventually a dictatorship, any dictatorship, not just Russia, will revert to war as a means to acquire some additional wealth, and also deflect the increasing dissatisfaction of the population with how the country is ruled. Which is exactly what happened with Russia. Fortunately for Ukraine, and all the civilised world, things have changed, compared to a century or two back. Overwhelming manpower no longer guarantees military supremacy, and the world at large no longer stands by and watches when a bully attacks one of its weaker neighbors. While the world at large could definitely do more about it, one thing is for sure: Western style democracies worldwide have recognised the threat that old style, imperially minded autocracies pose to the rules based world order that democracy needs to flourish. In the slow rhythm typical for democracy, they'll also do something about it.

[@christianevanherck6023]

Well said! Every dictatorial regime believes itself to be invincible, and yet every dictatorial regime falls in the end.

[@effexon]

Francos Spain didn't start war when cash was empty but so many cases those kind of regimes did. This is why China is in dangerous moment. Reason why he aint anything genious is brilliant is simple odds: to access that kind of huge bureacratic system of a big country, cannot be creative or super intelligent as that makes life harder... it is long machiavellian grind to rise to the top and need some allies. If they see person exceptional, forming allies and friends is much harder and easier to get enemies. So that rigid discipline learned from KGB helped in this.

[@deecee1522]

Shame on Russia

[@andrisvismanis7939]

Спасибо Вам 🤝

[@Darryl1963D]

Ecellent guest! Great information. Respect from Australia.

[@len4319]

We trust God. He is almighty. God shall judge the people righteously.

[@therolandx]

Forgot to ask the guy about Putin's tendency to be a cold blooded killer. Psychopathic killer on a grand scale is Putin's most notable use of adapting.

[@deecee1522]

Shame on Putin

[@mchozen2958]

So true

[@dannydetonator]

.. in every future's history book.

[@mryouben]

The rushist empire is crumbling

[@rajlowkie6616]

The USSR also crumbled under Putin's watch, a looser & a jinx.

[@DavidAshne-sv8nh]

January 6th, Biden the U.S. President who is lost in his mind trump in and out of court the border confusion collapsing U.S. empire.

[@manifold1476]

You mean Muscovia?

[@andreaswinsnes6944]

Does anyone have more info about September 17 2003 when Putin had a meeting about Ukraine? Any link to a reliable source documenting what Putin said?

[@tk80mufa5]

look up *2003 Tuzla Island conflict* on wiki

[@hopeforbetter382]

What is the difference between Stalin and Putin! A number of Russian lives that made him famous

[@jungleworld11]

So Putin's and Trump's religious beliefs are identical 😂😂

[@dwarftomatoproject]

I can see why he tries to understand what motivates and inspires anyone, no matter what their goals or beliefs are, then he can more easily work out how he can manipulate them in endless directions which makes his propaganda more powerful.

[@dannydetonator]

That's not just Putin, it's the very FSB and GRU revisioned playbook. They honed infirmational subversion for this hybrid war in the last 20 years and its ramping (and will do even more) up lately, directed by experts in numerous psyop offices.

[@alko_xo]

This dude didn’t mention it but Jesus told him something as well.

[@jamessullivan9992]

he will listen to anyone and perhaps if he disagrees they could fall out a window.

[@བོདཁབཅན]

Russia military budget 70billion US dollar! USA military budget over 850 billion US dollars! What Russians thinking???

[@DundeeDazza]

Such a brainwashed mob of commentators here LOL

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

I would also like to ask Mr. Illarionov... Does Putin really think that NATO wants to attack Russia or is that just propaganda he uses to justify his actions? If he really does believe that, when did he start to feel this way and why?

[@sH-ed5yf]

Putin thinks the west is organizing revolutions.

[@war-painter]

Oh please. Putin is a frightened wabbit scared of his own shadow. Bunker Grandpa stays underground and sends his clones out for photo ops because they make better soundbites and have much nicer cheekbones.

[@Nils.Minimalist]

I wouldn't call a guy smart who has an attitude like 🎶🎶"tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies"🎶🎶 ....

[@SS-zt3vr]

Mr. Illarionov is making impression that he is still working for Putin but just remotely.

[@war-painter]

Yeah, sounds like a promotional ad. Yes, putin is really the master strategist! He’s really smart! He’s says to Jason Jay Smart. Hahaha.

[@stephaniemurria5534]

I thought I was the only one to sense this.

[@vonries]

Very different from what is presented in the media.

[@Salt_of_the_Red_Earth_31]

💪🇺🇦💙🇺🇦💪🇺🇦💙🇺🇦💪🇺🇦💙🇺🇦💪🇺🇦💙🇺🇦

[@voice.of.reason]

Take the peace deal and stop the war now!

[@WolfgangWimmer]

We all got used to Putin´s face without emotions, it was from the beginning clear what he is, which childhood he must have had. Someone you would not even speak to if you meet on the street.

[@chicomacdonald7843]

This man is awesome. We want to hear more from him. Canada here.

[@wesleyallen1173]

The bottom line is simple; A person is known by their actions, and there deeds, so stop over thinking him.

[@jossiesh7649]

Illarionv is a psychopath

[@agritech802]

Great interview, thank you

[@abaybekele5839]

Putin is a well equipped man both with wisdom and humility. Tell us about the Nazists in Ukraine. What he asked from Ukraine is a security for his people!!!!

[@thembashibase3770]

So speaking to Putin once or twice makes one an expert on Putin's global political views and his psychology? Wow!

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

I would like to ask Mr. Illarionov... if Putin sees himself as the chosen one and the smartest one, and he makes his own decisions, how does he internalize it when his decision to go tragically wrong?

[@christianevanherck6023]

By projecting his faults on other people and/or countries and blaming them for what went wrong.

[@andrewbarnes-lo5vl]

Because he views himself as infallible & super-smart, it’s always someone else’s fault when it turns to shite… he rarely takes personal responsibility for decisions either; he often says some council or group decided & he implemented or he was forced to act by an external party/country/organisation

[@stanleyduru7356]

There's time for everything! So, Putin should keep quiet, and his country weakened, just to answer a good man. Money sent to Ukraine for war, could have been used for peace and development of Ukraine

[@kennance115]

It's Interesting to listen to people who have worked closely with Putin but you need to listen to several and not only one.

[@dacorum8053]

Reading his Wiki entry, this guy comes across as a man with very strong liberal western views which are at odds, not only with Putin and the Kremlin inner circle, but with pretty much the entire population of the Russian Federation because they are deeply patriotic and nationalist and he is clearly not because he wants to break up the Russian Federation. Why would Russians support him or anyone like him? The short answer is that they wouldn't. Wiki says that "In April 2022, Illarionov remarked during an interview with the BBC News agency that if Western countries "would try to implement a real embargo on oil and gas exports from Russia", then, in response, "probably within a month or two, Russian military operations in Ukraine, probably will be ceased, will be stopped". He stated that decisions involving Russian energy markets involved "very effective instruments" in terms of influencing senior leaders' behavior". As an economist, he got that totally wrong because the rest of the world has not been interested in enforcing western sanctions on Russia, starting with China who is now their biggest trading partner. Western influence is also in decline generally worldwide, helped in no small part by western total support of Israel for their appalling destruction of Gaza and their slaughter of civilians.

[@EphraimMatinhira]

Putin is a hero deserving world respect

[@guydreamr]

Good analysis overall, and rare to get an in depth assessment about Putin's religious beliefs. However, I'm skeptical about Patrushev's active involvement in the concert incident. Rather, I think the Russian leader was displeased over Patrushev's failure to stop the event from happening in time.

[@motouno3778]

I think this guy has been smoking wacky weed ! I think he's talking about someone else 😂😂😂😂😂

[@anthonyfoott4890]

This man is highly intelligent

[@jameslewis1605]

I wouldn't acknowledge being around Putin not now nor ever. You definitely didnt drink the tea nor live in a high rise with open windows. You're a lucky man.

[@sassulusmagnus]

It is always strategically advantageous to understand how an adversary thinks and what motivates them. But in Putin's case, it is best to pay less attention to what he says and more attention to what he does. Putin's verbal output seems primarily directed at eliciting a desired response in others. He speaks primarily to manipulate, not to accurately inform.

[@ericr6829]

Good analysis overall, and rare to get an assessment on Putin's religious beliefs. However, I'm skeptical that Patrushev was actively involved in the Crocus concert plot. Rather, I think Putin was displeased over Patrushev incompetence in failing to detect the plot in time.

[@kornei2007]

Kuchma (Ukraine president) suggested in 2003 that NATO military ships could pass through Kerch strait and use Azov sea space. Russians (not just Putin but eg Voloshin who stayed on as chief of staff) were adamant that it cannot happen. Russia started building a sand berm to this Tuzla island to cut the strait into Azov sea. Ukraine objected. In the end RF and Ukraine signed on a mutual regime of use of Azov sea where NATO ships could not sail into Azov sea. To suggest that this action predates 2022 SVO is to stretch causality without proof.

[@RichardLoomis-k7x]

Putin listens and Trump doesn’t listen… I wonder how that’s going to work? 🤔 Putin might be in trouble..😂😂😂😂😂

[@SnakeEngine]

Why don't you just listen to what Putin said himself? He explained all the reasons for the problems. Munich conference 2007 is a good start.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

His reasons are absolutely insane. Nobody gives two shitz about ruzzia. The idea of NATO invading is farcical. And he’s on video lying as much as tRump.

[@Mr.Monta77]

We don’t need to listen to Putin. We see what he does and thats why we must stop him.

[@SnakeEngine]

@@Mr.Monta77 If you just see one guy punch someone else without seeing what happened before (no knowledge of history), you don't really know the cause. Thus, you don't really know who is the bad guy that needs to be stopped. Just notice how the media avoids reporting you the history, it just focuses on what is happening now. It's a typical tool to create "manufactured consent".

[@redrev674]

He lies a lot

[@ClaytonOmwanga]

Old women fables about Putin. Now bring the facts.

[@Pacifissimus]

Very interesting interview !!

[@lassel1344]

I blame more on NATO and the USA who financed the 2014 coup d'état in Ukraine, where Victoria Nuland organized and installed the new government already 2 weeks before. Also strange is how the new government in 2014 invited the CIA and MI6 on day 1. That is the basic problem, no country should stage a coup d'état in another country regardless. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the leaders of the United States and Russia were able to talk to each other. Today the White House lacks this ability to talk and use diplomacy which I believe should always be tool no.1.

[@donaldmackerer9032]

This was a very good and informative interview. Definitely gave some food for thought.

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

Just FYI everyone: this guy talked about imminent full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than a year before it started, describing the directions and many details of territories and objects he wants to take control of ASAP. And all of those were very accurate.

[@shabalalamartin]

Save young men and women of of Ukraine 🇺🇦 simply because Ukraine 🇺🇦 and NATO they'll never defeat Russia 🇷🇺 that would be the end of the world 🌎 as we know it. Just stop the war and forget about trying to save face because the has been lost by Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@rainerkroeger4710]

The only person who listens to everyone? Joke of the century 😅

[@ArcFoundationDirector]

Purin is better than you.

[@JanMorsø]

The sycophant is strong, in what you say.

[@IBACb]

So he's batshit crazy.

[@andyreznick]

Extremely informative. Thanks!

[@michaelhenault1444]

How clever can Putin be to invade Ukraine in February 2021?

[@mariadorosariodaraujofaria7705]

😊

[@christiangodin5147]

Bonjour. Une personne intelligente n'assassine pas des centaines de milliers d'innocents. Merci.

[@DinHamburg]

sure, an intelligent person might do this - the problem is, when they victims are their *own* people!

[@christiangodin5147]

@@DinHamburg Oui, bien entendu. Dans mon intervention, j'incluais toutes les victimes, y inclues celles de son propre camp. Triste.

[@Never-mind1960]

In the long run, democratic countries must link trade to human rights in a positive (incentive based) process to reverse the root cause of oppression and dictatorship; the global market race to the bottom. Inconsistent sanctions usually have the reverse effect of hardening the resolve of oppressors.

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

This has been a fascinating interview- I Thankyou both 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️.. I would have said that Putin was morally deficit but now I am thinking .. he had high morals (but with Russia’s best interests), only to have his high morals assaulted by the easiness by which the democratic West failed to live up to Putin’s high morals.. is it too late??? Putin has crossed a line .. can he regain ANY confidence in the West’s morality and democracy??? Or will he continue his Lordship and omnipotent approach to his ultimate demise ?? For I believe that there is still more good in man/woman than evil. Does Putin?? Can he give up his power quest? and return to what is best for humanity??? If he could.. then he would prove to the world that Russia can be great again but not the way he is going atm 🙏

[@dan61131]

The Bible says... too much knowledge makes someone a fool. That's pootin!

[@klaasvakie]

_Judge not lest ye be judged!_

[@dan61131]

@@klaasvakie the Bible says also that believers will judge fallen angels & wicked men.

[@joaomaxado65]

From Putinokio I love the "joke": "Never corner a rat" . He forgot to say that the rat was killed in the end !

[@tttuu3309]

Slava Russia ❤. You will all meet God and Russian and Russia will be great like never before. You are nothing but a crying wolf

[@jackofswords7]

Andrei Illarionov. For someone who says he knows how Putin thinks goes off into his own fantasies after his well-assessed opening statements leaving out much of what really happened and embellishing his own opinions. I would love to see him in a frank and open discussion with Putin himself. I'm very sure he would come off 2nd best.

[@jakebarnes28]

You're living in fantasy land

[@jackofswords7]

@@jakebarnes28 And you're not? That is if you believe him.

[@anjaseidl4003]

Ghadafi war smart, Sadam Hussein, .... all smart.

[@victorruvalcaba5874]

They didnt have nuclear bombs.

[@anjaseidl4003]

@@victorruvalcaba5874 The media is so strong to proliferate fear and panic...

[@cosmincasuta486]

Russia...if you want to defeat Russia! Not Putin!

[@billturner6564]

It's important to not get obsessed with understanding Putin .... you can see with your own Eyes what he does its right in front of you just watch him perform

[@robertholliday2024]

He gives reasons as to why some of Republicans are so insanely in ❤ with Russia like Moscow Mitch 🐕 🫏!