Putin and the Presidents: William Taylor (interview) | FRONTLINE

William Taylor served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009 under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In 2019, he served as chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv under President Donald Trump. He is currently the vice president for strategic stability and security at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
The following interview was conducted by the Kirk Documentary Group’s Michael Wiser for FRONTLINE on Sept. 29, 2022. It has been edited for clarity and length.
This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
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[@StayPrimal]

I been watching all your interviews in the past 2 weeks, a marathon of front line. It was amazing and aducative thank you.

[@jakebredthauer5100]

What is the root of Frontline hostility toward Russia?

[@StayPrimal]

@@jakebredthauer5100 The crimea invasion.

[@jakebredthauer5100]

@@StayPrimal Did the US invade Crimea? If US wanted to rule the world it would invade Crimea.

[@piffgrouskay2614]

😊 58:21 58:25 q​@@StayPrimal

[@born2bwildne744]

The whole series: "Putin and the Presidents" has been excellent. Thank you Frontline !!

[@hmmcinerney]

There’s another series called I think ‘The Putin files’, excellent also. Silicon Curtain also has brilliant interviews.

[@born2bwildne744]

@ItAintRocketScience really? What lies did he tell? Support your claim that it was a lie with source citation presenting hard and credible evidence that it was a lie.

[@born2bwildne744]

@ItAintRocketScience So, you have no evidence to cite and present. Didn't think so - but you deserved the opportunity. Extreme bias (or simple-minded trolling) blinds one to balance and reason, to facts and to truth.

[@tselisomokhali3088]

And one-sided

[@born2bwildne744]

@@tselisomokhali3088 the series provides inputs from a number of players with visibility or perspective on the series’ title. Putin’s evil (and by extension, Russia’s evil) in Ukraine …… nuf said.

[@lashlarue7924]

Ukraine should have never given up its nukes. That is the worst lesson of this war.

[@franklassalle1523]

Great insight to how this WAR progressed where Ukraine and Russia are. Bill Taylor’s done a phenomenal job and knows Ukraine from his time being Ambassadorship to Ukraine. Excellent Video.

[@Ozscaro]

remember how Hero Biden demanded to fire proaecutor who investigated his son corruption?

[@arrow-lo7jf]

Letting intelligent and articulate people actually speak with honesty and without interruption is great journalism. Thank you, I enjoy Frontline.

[@marikalathem813]

A man with impeccable integrity. Unfortunately seldom seen theses days… especially in government. Good on you Mr. Taylor. Slava Ukraine. Victory and peace to its citizens and military.

[@mohammednaemwarqa9698]

слава россии🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

[@davidskjeie945]

My sense is that there are more people of integrity in government than you acknowledge. Unfortunately, our politicians seem all too often to be focused on obtaining and retaining power, and in pandering to whatever interest groups are perceived as necessary to election at the primary level. This problem is exacerbated by gerrymandering which promotes tribalism and gives far too much power to vocal albeit relatively small interest groups to the detriment of consensus building and compromise necessary to actually get useful things done. And then there was Trump who was willing to abuse his office powers and sell out the Ukrainians absent their support for his illegitimate coercion of them to aide his campaign against Biden. As between Taylor and Trump, they are at opposite sides of the measure of integrity.

[@sanjushah3061]

Please report Hindustan times to KZbin. This channel is constantly spewing pro Russian propaganda and anti west hatred and lies. In the same way that RT and other Russian media were shut down . There is no free media in India because it's all controlled by Modi and his gangster friends. Please report Hindustan times with me. It's highly probable are being directed by and directly paid by Putin.

[@mohammednaemwarqa9698]

@@sanjushah3061 glory to Russia 🚩🚩🚩🚩💪💪💪

[@marikalathem813]

@@mohammednaemwarqa9698 never. Disgusting regime.

[@Kromster80]

PBS, thank you very much for these interviews

[@inevolution1]

Absolutely wonderful human being showing the best of our country on the deepest level with every time the truth being carefully articulated. Thank you so much for your service and a glimpse into a secret world.🙏❤️🙏

[@Andyfresh-nt2um]

Victory to Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@GOSPELPOWERED01]

Wilfull ignorance

[@Tom.788]

Frankly, PBS seems like the most objective and informative news out there these days.

[@michellahaie574]

It doesn’t seem like it, it is.

[@GeoMaddock]

LOL - koolaid goes down easy

[@waltertheartist2746]

Its much easier to detect the propaganda in fox news that's for sure!

[@stephenlosch2015]

@@GeoMaddock Which koolaid? Would you prefer 2 or 3 minute analysis by people that have no idea?

[@clancywiggam]

@@GeoMaddock Koolaid, sheeple, blah blah blah. Have an original thought.

[@The26380]

"Today Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, then the Baltic states and then the time will come for my country - Poland" - Prophetic words of President of Poland Lech Kaczynski at the rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, during the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia. He paid with his life for these words!

[@gondolacrescent5]

Nonsense. Russia will never attack a NATO member and no NATO member will ever attack Russia. Poland and all three Baltic States are NATO members.

[@ItsMe_Hello_People]

Thank you for this interview with Mr. Taylor. He has great knowledge and experience on this topic. I hope more people watch this.

[@mrpepe1408]

🤡👆 neo nazi lover 😂

[@darktube8712]

USA foolish foreign policies , they thought they rich in 90s from selling weapons they can do what ever they want. And they want to be the good guy and the communism is bad. They are just tired of racist against black ppl so now communism is the new enemy. Ukraine has always been pushed by USA to fight Russia since USA use propaganda to break apart Russia (Soviet). Its the USA who wants to be the good guy and bully others through sanctions to because they think they are better than everyone else. USA still cant help being racist. And that concludes, USA its a country of Tyrants.

[@josephtabar492]

Only if your a Russian apologist.....

[@DovTauzin]

😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@DovTauzin]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@SpaceyMonkey75]

These interviews have been among the most enlightening, eye opening pieces of journalism I've seen.

[@irishmade8136]

Brilliant interview. Very informative. From Ireland. 👍🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@cthree87]

This series of long-form interviews is fantastic, thanks

[@marcosvidal4940]

it's fantastic anti-Russia propaganda, agreed

[@romadolnyckyj1706]

So it should be , why should only Putin be lying nonstop

[@marcosvidal4940]

@@romadolnyckyj1706 I'm not going to start lying just because others do, and that's because I have something they don't --integrity

[@Power_to_the_people567]

@@marcosvidal4940 What do you consider propaganda?

[@marcosvidal4940]

​@@Power_to_the_people567 biased or misleading information used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

[@matthew-jy5jp]

I trust frontline and PBS. Best programs on 📺

[@marcosvidal4940]

dumb, and now dumber

[@MR-G-Rod]

Government funded media....🙊🙉🙈

[@jasonlehfeldt1577]

Whistle blower? Say his name. Alexander Vindman, American hero.

[@williamyoung9401]

Individuals with as much Power and Prestige as he had don't like Whistleblowers.

[@kennysartwork5827]

Vindman Whistle Blower hero? John Paul MacIssac ! ! ! ! (the mac shop owner who turned in the laptop to the FBI 2019 before the impeachment hearings, with evidence of Biden's selling access to the V.P.'s office) why doesn't PBS open up that story and interview MacIssac? Doesn't fit PBS narrative - Democrats are good guys.

[@jasonlehfeldt1577]

@@kennysartwork5827 Kenny’s dead!

[@rap4880]

I don't think the name of the whistle-blower was ever revealed.

[@ExperienceVidium]

Have to give credit to the interviewer - great questions good interview

[@calbackk]

This series is really wonderful in its great depth and clarity. Greetings from Sweden

[@itsaustraliadayeveryday7234]

Wake up

[@bryanbrewer4272]

@@itsaustraliadayeveryday7234 Woke is a joke......

[@itsaustraliadayeveryday7234]

@@bryanbrewer4272 yes woke is a joke but it destroying the west like a cancer

[@ezbody]

@@bryanbrewer4272 Stay asleep.

[@eagleheart1000]

It's a dangerous moment indeed. But it's far more dangerous to let Putin get his way.

[@wakingupcrosseyed]

I love this. A man with this composure and guile deserves more credit. No matter the bluster and cloak-and-dagger of politic du jeur, knowing that people like this are actually at the helm helps innumerable citizens sleep at night.

[@marcosvidal4940]

when lying meets poetry. That's you

[@hanvroman]

Come on the man is a lying neo-con, it's bizarre how he can fool so many ppl..

[@jaimejaimeChannel]

I appreciate these background "source" interviews SO VERY MUCH! Thank you.

[@ladaminuetkittens5216]

This is excellent. I was always admiring Mr. Taylor and his views and judgements. I think everybody should hear this.

[@mohammedabdullahiattah6803]

He just a lair, everything he is saying here is a lie, the man doesn't even know that Crimea is part of Russia historically and not Ukraine, since 1783, till it was transferred to Ukraine in 1954. US has been planning to destroy Russia decades ago to break it into smaller countries, what that man is saying is pure lies he is hidden the truth behind what is happening now.

[@huldaliljeblad3611]

​​@@mohammedabdullahiattah6803and I'm from Sweden and once we ruled Brittain, northern France, Sicilly and even Tunisia. I would like to have them back now, let's invade!

[@mohammedabdullahiattah6803]

@@huldaliljeblad3611 you once ruled where and with what army very funny, conquering villages in those time is not considered to be anything important, did you fight the Mongols or the Persians or the ottomans, I can remembered that you were brutally rule by the Romans empire isn't it, so please keep quiet.

[@huldaliljeblad3611]

@@mohammedabdullahiattah6803 you'd better read up on European history, the Romans never even reached continental Baltic Sea coast. Ever heard about the Normands? Google King Roger of Sicilly and Norman Africa! But perhaps you are confusing Sweden with Switzerland?

[@huldaliljeblad3611]

@@mohammedabdullahiattah6803 and did you know, Sweden is the only country who has invaded Moscow since the middle ages?

[@dawnoftherainbow8500]

This channel is definitely at the front of the line!!

[@Ozscaro]

in leftist propaganda yes...

[@matthijs3134]

22:40 as a citizen of the Netherlands I need to explain our opposition against Georgia and Ukraine joining the EU. We aren’t against them joining the eu, but they need a lot of reforms even as of today, since these countries still run like soviet countries. Corruption thrives there even up into the highest levels of government. Once this and other issues are addressed they are welcome

[@mikekirk1513]

Just a totally excellent interview. So informative, from a man who knows.

[@williamyoung9401]

He actually doesn't reveal anything that isn't already public knowledge. He knows how to cover his own behind.

[@dezurniprovokator373]

To the ignorant people who know nothing!

[@eliasyalda3686]

Great interview. Great info's , questions and answers based on facts. Ambassador William Taylor seems to be very confident and serious on telling the plain-truth. Bravo to you Mr. Ambassador

[@informationsdienstdeutschl1874]

Interference with election? Great Knowledge of Ukraine, like bis sons? Bitches or what?

[@MrManny075]

Based on facts are you sure? Russia had over 100 thousand soldiers at the border of Ukraine and Putin gives Nato his demands and finished by saying if you don't accept these demands I will have to do something, Surely you don't need intelligence to tell you his going to invade knowing they said NO to all of them, You only can say this is BS if you know some facts, you can always google Putin demands to Nato

[@marcosvidal4940]

stop lying

[@hanvroman]

Almost everything Taylor said is a lie...

[@stereoreviewx]

You don’t get to be an ambassador without being a skilled liar that’s what I’m seeing here

[@annjuurinen6553]

Great interview. Thank you Ambassador Taylor.

[@ksailor71]

I am so sad that our Western European allies said no to Ukraine and Georgia 😢

[@MM-xk6tf]

Why? It would be WWIII now.

[@TomBatemanRT85]

Yes! Bill Taylor is the f-king man! That VOICE!!!

[@mohammednaemwarqa9698]

😂😂😂👍💪

[@goldenniblings]

Love these productions❤

[@shiva369]

Please keep this series going. Absolutely top tier journalism!

[@marcosvidal4940]

nope. just anti-Russia propaganda

[@presidentofukraina]

Glory to the brave Ukrainians defending democracy and freeing their land from Russian invaders, murderers, terrorists and war criminals 🫡🇺🇦 god bless Will Taylor ❤

[@REGjr]

What do we in America know about democracy (which if we had one wouldn't be so great for its mandate to impose the will of the many upon the concerns of the few anyway)? How is it even possible to achieve democratically-elected representation by artificial constraint of the (fully -lobbied) candidate pool to two (fully-lobbied) parties? Rhetorical I'm not being personally aggressive with you 😐 or trying to sound that way. I'm just pointing out it isn't even necessary that our elections are real with a semantic trick like the very term democracy at work falsely implying informed dissent within a governed electorate never rises to a majority. Just is what it is man. All governments are plutocracies because no impulse to govern over others arises from anything but self-interest...which is a big duh that we are not accidentally dumbed-down about. One-party sells people too stupid (maybe naive but distracted by greed) to realize ripoffs like student loan forgiveness of course come right out of their very own taxes and the other one pretends to be about smaller and less government while legislating such bullshit as marriage and reproduction. Even the most nobly idealistic soundly-chartered government is inevitably corrupted because politicians are like beauty pageant contestants. Like I said, is what it is. So yay democracy but AFAICT our mutual misapprehension of Slavs is that we do not fathom that they are more cynical than me and they do not believe we are as idealistic as you.

[@ilikepetephotography6944]

Glory to the Brave Ukrainians defending their variety of corruption.

[@paulbryant6654]

The United States is a Republic actually not a democracy!

[@REGjr]

@@paulbryant6654 Good point.

[@tturbine3940]

The collapse of the Soviet Union was the most wonderful geopolitical event of the century.

[@ronmorrison1964]

Thanks Col. Vindeman!

[@scottparkes7744]

Lots of angry Russians on this chat😂 they can’t even pretend anymore

[@artembiyun423]

they get paid by the comment, don't stick around for the replies though

[@andrewwong2605]

I'm not Russian. That is absolute bull shit. The typical American bull. You only see the way you want. I guess every country in the world know your regime change mode of operation. Utube is in cohort with the deep state...

[@artembiyun423]

@@andrewwong2605 youre a liar tho

[@scottparkes7744]

This war could be over in a heartbeat……Putin just needs to withdraw his troops How about directing your anger to him It’s an illegal attempted takeover of a country BTW. I’m not American but I do live in a free democratic country that calls bullshit when we see it

[@chrisread2895]

You just sound like you are swallowing your countries' propaganda, hook, line and sinker ... the hate your feel for your 'enemy' is coerced by the very people you think are your friends, but control you .... patriotism is tribalism ... and not healthy for integrity or decency ... question what you read ... treat others as you would like to be treated ... one simple rule xXx

[@paullieblich3950]

Wonderful and insightful interview.

[@itsaustraliadayeveryday7234]

hahhaahaha

[@KingSolomon88]

Thank you Mr. Wiser for your thoughtful questions and bringing smart and most experience individuals in their fields, making the interviews very interesting.

[@joebullwinkle5099]

I think that this is the most informative interview on this subject.

[@midwest1100]

This is the most bias interview I've ever heard not informative get your facts right man

[@Diossvk]

Journalism at its best. Thank you, PBS.

[@best-foodshow]

Insightful, informative, great interview - Glad the United States has people like Mr. Taylor.

[@privatevendetta]

I wonder why western European states said no to George Bush, when he was such a calm, reflected and rational politician.

[@staciehahn9175]

I was guilty of being anti-GB too, but I’ve grown and learned since then… he did a damn good job, given the circumstances. I’m still a democrat, but I also feel drawn toward sane republicans these days. Too bad there aren’t any currently….

[@egroegny]

A rational and reflective politician? Didn’t he invade Iraq under false pretenses? The invasion killed hundred thousands of Iraqis and several thousands American servicemen. The debacle after the invasion led to the rise of ISIS.

[@tonysu8860]

I think ambassador Taylor is referring to President GW Bush, not the father HW Bush. President GW Bush didn't have have the same reputation as his father, accused improperly of being an alcoholic and elected only because he was a Bush family member. In fact, the first year or two of his Presidency was dominated by neo-conservatives led by VP Cheney. In the end, GW Bush proved himself of special mettle when he reversed course in the middle of his administration and turned it inside out expelling the neo-conservatives that ran his administration led by VP Cheney in the first couple years and Bush led his Presidency for the remainder of his term. IMO very few people or Presidents would have done what GW Bush did, that showed GW Bush was more of a person than a lot of people thought. President GW Bush was respected much but turned out to be a better than expected President.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

​@@staciehahn9175 he was a bad president then and he is still a bad president now. His presidency just seems a lot more conventional because of everything that happened since. It has been a linearly decent into madness ever since mr watergate at least. That is as far my knowledge about things is good enough to have an opinion on the matter.

[@johnfarrelly4753]

George the Elder. The Younger just played at President when he could not longer play as President of the Rangers.

[@dan_taninecz_geopol]

The difficulty is that you often need to focus on more than one thing at a time. The PRC and Russia are both problems.

[@philbydoodle6199]

Another awesome conversation-thanks for sharing this with us

[@philtucker5485]

Very interesting, thank you

[@ramonobrial3644]

mr taylor is good dipllmat a kind of perspn we need im govt

[@margueritebaker261]

O

[@rasul407]

I like him! He’s so innocently cool with his facial gestures :) remeber the meme he made during congressional hearing?

[@marcosvidal4940]

nothing innocent about this liar

[@hanvroman]

His lying proves he more a criminal than a truth loving man...

[@babaecalus]

@@hanvroman and you think your dumb assumptions without any proof let you look like a truth loving man? no. no it really does not.

[@damaris42]

It’s remember not remeber

[@h.e.hazelhorst9838]

Very interesting and informative. I’d also love to see an interview with Angela Merkel! @41 mins. One problem with Crimea was, that Russia already had a military force in Crimea prior to the invasion (in Sebastopol) and that Crimea is easy to keep, with only a landbridge to defend.

[@anthonycook6613]

That is an excellent point which hadn't occurred to me. Any picture of how Putin interacts with US Presidents would certainly be given an extra layer of depth by also discussing how he interacted with Merkel.

[@michaelwaldmeier1601]

But Crimea had no water other than the canal from the North.

[@michaelwaldmeier1601]

@@anthonycook6613 Merkel spoke Russian, grew up and did well in the DDR, and gained political influence from the increased natural gas imports and Nord Stream 2.

[@h.e.hazelhorst9838]

@@michaelwaldmeier1601 yes, and that’s a very interesting geopolitical feature: Ukraine probably shut off the water supply after the 2014 invasion.

[@anthonycook6613]

@@michaelwaldmeier1601 Hi Michael 🙂 As far as I know, at the time when Merkel was at school in the DDR, it was pretty much standard to learn Russian. Nowadays all German school students learn some English (I'm saying this as an expat living in Germany, btw), but back in the day, West Germans learned English and East Germans learned Russian. That was just the way it was, so I don't think we can use that to help us form an opinion of Merkel. But I do think it's fair to criticise the naivety of the "Handel durch Wandel" (change through trade) dictum that regulated German-Russian relations under Merkel's stewardship. It was naive at best, cynical at worst, and it sold out a number of other European countries, including Ukraine. Right now, in 2023, Germany is hosting 1 million Ukrainian refugees, and overall doing a very good job of it. That's not something to be minimised. For example, the UK - whose media inexplicably seems to see itself as the moral compass of this conflict - have only taken about 20,000 refugees. So y'know, they can FRO to their Murdoch sex dungeons and never come back. One million refugees is a lot of state resources and a lot of care to devote to people who need it. That said, there probably is a parallel universe in which Merkel got far more serious about the threat from the Kremlin, and this full-scale invasion was deterred by a much more robust response from Europe to the Crimean annexation - including the closure of Nord Stream. In this respect she definitely has to carry the can somewhat, and the recent interview in which she expressed "no regrets" shows that she isn't (yet) willing to do that. One last point: if you're looking for German Chancellors who definitely *did* benefit personally from the Nord Stream deal, Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schröder is probably your guy. Schröder helped the original deal go through, all the while accepting personal sleigh rides from Putin through the Russian snow, and then went on to become both chairman of the Nord Stream project itself, and later chairman of the Russian oil company Rosneft. He is a sickening, nauseating man, who celebrated his 70th birthday with Putin in St. Petersburg while war raged in the Donbas in 2014. Not a person who would be easy to meet in person without being sorely tempted to punch him in the face ;-) Anyway, regardless of whether we agree or disagree about some of these issues, I'm glad we can have this discussion. Have a good one, Michael :-)

[@nejaziB]

I’ve been a subscriber since 2014 I’m glad I know what’s going on thank you 🙏 @frontline

[@AlloBruxelles]

Putin does not think that the US is behind all of Russia's problems. Putin's rhetoric is best seen through the lens of his domestic failures. All Russian dictators, from the Tsars on, needed an external enemy for their regime to survive (besieged fortress syndrome). The Kremlin fears China beyond description. So, the West, being pretty much harmless to Russia is the only and easy choice. Putin knows that blaming the West is a fallacy.

[@tonysu8860]

I don't think I agree and would agree more with ambassador William Taylor's characterization that Putin's personal ambitions to right the wrong of the fall of the Soviet Union is the primary motivation for invading Ukraine. Putin's autocratic view of the world is transactional, even domestically. He cares little for anyone but himself and by extension the cadre of supporters that keep him in power. As long as he felt his position a the President of Russia was secure and revenues from the Russian oil industry was secure I don't see him viewing his rule in Russia as a failure. In fact, by his KGB standards he's been an extremely successful leader, unchallenged and all powerful of the largest country in the world in land mass along with its immense treasure of raw minerals and a military considered second only to the US. Russia fears China but felt China was contained. No, Putin invaded Ukraine only because he thought he could get away with it. He thought he had properly prepared beforehand from the lessons of Crimea in 2014 and built up his currency reserves so he thought he'd be immune from any new sanctions. He thought that the Ukrainian people would welcome Russian troops with little to no resistance like in 2014 because there is no such thing as a Ukrainian culture or identity. Ukrainians were willing members of the Soviet Union and desired Russian rule agan so Russian troops would be welcomed as liberators from an oppressive West.

[@AlloBruxelles]

@@tonysu8860 your point and mine are separate issues

[@RasAlHaq]

I thought the other Frontline interview with Timothy Snyder makes similar/fascinating points. I'd love to hear more about Russia's fear of China's rise.

[@henrikmadsen6100]

Very interesting interview with Ambassador Taylor. He clearly knows what he is talking about!

[@midwest1100]

I don't see it like that I see a lot of flaws and what he saying. I'm not a big fan of Putin. But this guy sounds like he's doing a sales pitch for Joe Biden. I strongly suggest you watch John mershimer watch him on KZbin. He analyzed the ukrainian-russian situation 8 years ago you're going to get some facts. And a lot of them are not going to coincide with what this guy is saying.

[@esinyenetabo2356]

2M + Subscribers. We are moving forward in Truth.

[@jimbrunsman1011]

Well spoken and distinguished man. Surprised he didn't mention the Chechen War...

[@williamyoung9401]

And of course he never has a bad word to say about George W. Bush.

[@hmmcinerney]

He implied that by giving voice to Ukraine joining NATO without pushing it over the line actually put a target on Ukraines back.

[@jenniferloftus2363]

@@williamyoung9401 He's a diplomat. I understand that's not a very well known type of thing these days when saying shocking and controversial and even rude things will get you a lot of attention. But a diplomat is careful and says things in a way that doesn't offend. Diplomacy. He was also very careful in criticizing Mr. Obama. These folks aren't usually the blue red divide types, if they are good at their jobs. They aren't usually critical of US Presidents.

[@curtiswebb8135]

Good point.

[@ronmorrison1964]

Thanks Amb. Taylor!

[@zhim57]

Thank you

[@charlesh.2474]

This series has been excellent

[@ltipst2962]

Very good. US is very lucky to have this man. We all are.

[@liberty_and_justice67]

Great interview! I am an American, but dearly wish that American leadership was not critical to protecting freedom. The EU approximates US economically. If freedom is dear to the EU nations, they should have been maintaining armed forces commiserate to the US. And, with the Trump aberration in mind, the US may not always be reliable.

[@GlobalPenguin2012]

This clip is so insightful. One of the best so far

[@marcosvidal4940]

utter garbage. An obscene exercise of propaganda

[@seangrimes1559]

This is an incredible interview. I feel so much smarter just from watching it.

[@midwest1100]

You feel smarter huh. You just got a lot more stupid as what happened these guys lie and if you believe it you're none the wiser. John mershimer he tells the truth

[@junopuno7011]

Very well investigated journalism 👌

[@dominiquea.-vt2lj]

Very good interview, great learning.

[@lindarasmussen1686]

Very informative, loved it!

[@MichaelFlynn0]

So much understanding of history and personality.

[@miguelfluendez88]

Indeed.

[@tnorri25]

Thank you, Frontline!

[@RosieBaseball]

This has been a great look back down memory lane. I remember the issue of withholding assistance to Ukraine back in September 2019 but only from the perspective of attempts to impeach President Trump and not really understanding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This interview is now putting everything back into perspective as a result of Russia's invasion in 2022. Fantastic interview.

[@babaktabarrok7619]

Loved the interview.

[@thefisherking78]

I love listening to intelligent adults talk about foreign policy. The idiots and children are far too common and far too vocal these days.

[@SaanichtonMinistries]

Very well put. Bad start, but it got very good as you went along! Thanks sir!

[@speedy423]

Two👍👍..

[@dmitrykis4003]

Thank you such an interesting interview and for supporting Ukraine.

[@midwest1100]

I was waiting for someone say thanks for supporting Ukraine because that's exactly what they're doing. And they were doing it when Ukraine was terrorizing the Eastern portion of Ukraine, shelling innocent civilians killing people no one knew about it. CNN did a report on it but they're trying to hide it was 10 years ago

[@banicoletti]

Putin is very scared that his people will see from Ukrainians that they can govern themselves and that is why he has to rail against the US-so “his” people rise up thinking they are with, rather than against him. He remembers Dresden and fears the mob… The Putin Files is also a great Frontline series!

[@jorgemancilla1416]

When an EXPERT talks, we listen!

[@nuggetella]

To what message..?

[@hostlands]

The quickest, cheapest way to stop the war is for a small number of guys to target the propellers of ships on route to Russian ports in high seas. Britain, the US & France have a Treaty Obligation to send in troops and all the might they have to defend Ukraine as they Guaranteed the defence of Ukraine when they all persuaded Ukraine to give up their Nuclear Capabilities in 1994. Had Ukraine kept its Nuclear arms this would never have occurred.

[@junopuno7011]

Really sad that Ukraine has gave up their only guarantee of security...

[@GeoMaddock]

Moscow held and controlled the nukes, not Kiev.

[@dominicruz3871]

Thank you for this interview mr Taylor

[@majamaja8136]

Why do we human beings love when we are being lied to ?

[@MichaelFlynn0]

5 stars

[@CatalystD9]

Great speaker William Taylor, intelligent great voice ..

[@williamyoung9401]

A great voice that reveals nothing.

[@musicbygoldenj]

Please upload ‘Putin and the Presidents’ full documentary 😊 🙏

[@blaizesibande6634]

You know… I’m not sure which party he’s affiliated with, but these balanced perspectives really is a breath of fresh air. I was so disappointed in Trump and his reaction to Putin and Ukraine, I appreciate Biden’s tone and heart posture in this regard. ❤

[@Yourdeadmeat69]

Bill Taylor is living poof 76 isn't old. Give it hell Bill!

[@GeoMaddock]

Don Lemon might not agree...

[@Yourdeadmeat69]

@@GeoMaddock Lemon's on the way out. Fun Fact: Sometimes cancel culture works.

[@oneplanetonespecies]

A lesson on how to defend and fight a bully. Putin only understands one thing. Might meets might. Get rid of Putin and the war is over. But my fear is that this doesnt end well.

[@JobayerJisan]

The finest journalism PBS.

[@thomaskotch4770]

The finest Journalism...Pravda

[@TrayDyer38]

It’s that Frontline narrator in the beginning of every episode that catches my attention. “TONIGHT ON FRONTLINE….”

[@kennethsnyder9236]

Bottom line is that you are better off leaving the sleeping dragons 🐉 lye or face the wrath of the mighty Eagle 🦅. Let freedom ring. Let the whole world know who are listening!

[@higadancreamsandbeachfarmr2979]

The Taliban sure learned their lessons not mess with America. “Thanks for leaving us your weapons stupid Americans!”

[@jordan695]

What is this stupid sh1t? We’re a joke right now. We are no position to tell the world how to behave.

[@haroldalston3349]

The U.S. can't solve its own problems but they want to solve the world problems.Clean your house first.

[@wraprock-itroll-francisfra9370]

thanks, i enjoyed this.. bless us all

[@CharlesSchellhorn-iq5ii]

I learned something new I didn’t know, Good, video! 29:24

[@jamesrock9446]

I like this dude b/c he sh*ts on the Russian offensive wrt Ukraine.

[@Wildrover82]

Interesting insights here.

[@brian_atc]

That was the best synopsis of the Ukraine/Russia conflict I've heard to date. It's a stark reminder of what happened when Trump was in office. William Taylor was and is a national treasure. Marie Yovanovitch's story should be investigated at some point as her treatment was disgusting and not worthy of such a brilliant ambassador. I was pleasantly surprised at the actions and support Pompeo gave to Taylor. I don't trust Pompeo at all, but at least he did the right thing in this particular situation.

[@sulynlam3562]

Fascinating insights. Unfortunate that NATO to knocked back member initiation of Georgia and Ukraine.

[@StayPrimal]

Front line you should clean up your comment section its full of scam and low life trolls.

[@davidobriend8560]

They're even trolling peppa pig and Bluey nowadays. My daughter was like, "Dad, did you know ukraines really a real country," the other day.

[@williamyoung9401]

That's KZbin's fault. Give credit where credit is due.

[@fredsmith4134]

hopefully this war is russia's downfall !!!

[@irrationalpie3143]

The interview was great, but the acoustics , microphone could use help.

[@har8397]

When was this??

[@jasonmardoniomeza1711]

In 2007 in Munich and Putins invasion of Georgia in 2008 was not taken seriously because of Russian oil and gas sold cheap to Europe and American Corporations making huge profits in Russia.

[@ricardas16]

not american. german, french and italian corporations made a killing there. especially germans, and germans also getting cheap oil and natural gas.

[@user-tp4yl4iu6e]

Lol Putin's invasion of Georgia? You are aware that the conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia did not begin in 2008, since 1989 South Ossetia has been seeking independence, the first military clashes began in 1991. In 1992, peacekeepers and OSCE observers were introduced. In 2004, the conflict resumed again and shelling began. Further, on August 8, 2008 (at 0:06), Georgian troops began a massive artillery bombardment of the capital of South Ossetia, the city of Tskhinvali and surrounding areas. A few hours later, the city was stormed by Georgian armored vehicles and infantry. On August 8 (at 14:59), Russia officially joined the conflict on the side of South Ossetia. Another important detail is that Dmitry Medvedev was the president of Russia in 2008.

[@ricardas16]

@@user-tp4yl4iu6e yes, Im fully aware. doesnt change the fact that ruzzia invaded georgia. same with moldova.

[@sergio4740]

Frontline PBS is the perfect match to french LCI. Like twins.

[@EricDMunoz]

PBS really going for the Errol Morris vibe.

[@jordanaus75]

Great interview!

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Brilliant as usual, we wish there were this much analysis of something domestic like affordable housing but still it is another insightful interview and we thank you.

[@davidobriend8560]

What rich person in the us would give money to fund that episode? Coming up next, an in depth critique of medical insurance in the US brought to you by Blue cross and blue shield

[@MM-xk6tf]

@@davidobriend8560 Good one!

[@idavukify]

Great to see Arsene Wenger doing his bit for world peace

[@chriszikos3672]

We are condemning Russia for exactly we do all over the world..

[@broadwaydebut1]

Good interview. Since 2008, Georgia has not been absorbed by Russia so I don’t understand Ukraine being absorbed