"Putin is Pushing Our Buttons", Fiona Hill on Russia's War in Ukraine

As Russia continues its war on Ukraine we are welcomed back by Fiona Hill to share her insights into what drove Putin to launch the war, what might persuade him to back down and the likelihood of his using nuclear weapons. In conversation with author and Times journalist Edward Lucas, she talked about the European response and the link between the populist impulse and the desperation of people in forgotten heartlands - a desperation she has seen in her hometown, in Russia and the US.
Fiona Hill is the foreign affairs expert who started life as a former coal miner’s daughter in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and became an adviser to Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. She came to public attention in 2019 when she testified against President Trump during his first impeachment and has been much in demand in recent weeks as an expert voice on the events unfolding in Ukraine.

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

I’m a Fiona Hill fan girl. Among the things I love about her is that she cannot give a one sentence answer to a very interesting question that touches on areas of her expertise. She knows so much, and expresses it so clearly, that I come away from any of her talks with a fuller understanding of regional and global topics of current interest. Thank you for presenting this very interesting interview. Cheers!

[@HUZ9k3s5w]

She posses the ability to take the "helicopter-perspective" , hovering high above a field and give us a proper overview, then dive down into particular matters and areas, then back up again to place things in context and go back to the big picture, over and over again. Someone able to do this certainly needs to know the topics at hand inside out! :-) (yes I am also a Fiona Hill fan, a fan boy)😀

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

@@HUZ9k3s5w Well said. Thanks for that mental picture.

[@EmpireRules]

Did we just forget that Fiona Hill is a former official of the US National Security Council? In case we are forgetting, the primary objectives of this so-called security council is to advance our hegemonic imperial expansion by way of supporting/taking full advantage of the advanced military technologies and pertinent core competences primarily offered by Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and more. As an engineer, I myself had worked on multiple missile subsystems used for several missiles made by Raytheon. Praising her perspective is like praising the perspective of Caesar with his understanding of the world. Also, due to its vast “experience”, why Rome with its undefeated military might should rightfully rule the entire world while serving as the ONLY moral arbitraor during any global conflicts. #OyVey #CognitiveDissonance

[@jane364]

@@EmpireRules your so smart . ?

[@EmpireRules]

@@jane364 -No, I’m not. For instance, from your short comment, I’m learning that a ‘.’ and a ‘?’ go together at the end of a sentence. You must be a genius! Or, as we say in Boston, “You must be wicked smaaht!”

[@andyreznick]

I love listening to Ms. Hill. She is an island of measured sanity in an otherwise often chaotic ocean. Thanks for airing this interview!

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

I agree completely!

[@RBCharger]

When I see a video with her in the thumbnail, I am sure to watch. I didn't even know this was from Intelligence Squared until it started playing.

[@kenlawson554]

She sounds like another shill for neo- liberalism. Both of them do.

[@GorillaTVe]

well she is basically repeating the mainstream western hype and hysteria so your comment is very contradictory.

[@andyreznick]

@@GorillaTVe Well, there is where we disagree, with all respect. I happen to believe that the invasion is illegal, brutal and unprovoked. It is causing millions to suffer in pursuit of the goal of Russian elites for money, land, power and empire. I find the on-going Russian propaganda point that the West is causing the damage by supplying the Ukrainians weapons to stave off becoming a conquered state as laughable as the one where they are not targeting civilians. In all, I suppose I have fallen for the Hype, right?

[@daveheyiwantyoutolabelsome3175]

Only fools underestimate Russia

[@greghill7759]

It appears Russia underestimated Ukraine.

[@isaia273]

@@greghill7759 There is no evidence that Russians have done that, underestimation.

[@rich11a15]

@@greghill7759 ?

[@petars.6210]

@@greghill7759 Nonsense. Ukraine is 2nd largest Country in Europe that NATO trained for 8 years and now receive Military aid from WHOLE Political West~! This is Western WORLD WAR against Russia, only Ukraine is battlefield!

[@xtc2v]

@@greghill7759 Firstly they had to wait to the end of the games in China and by then the thaw had set in which made it too muddy for tanks. Secondly, after wasting time waiting for the west to offer talks they advanced with orders to avoid civilian casualties. It would have been easier to nuke western Ukraine then ask whoever is left standing if they would like to surrender. It also would have been a walkover if the US had not spent 8 years training and arming not only Ukraine's army but the Azov private militia.

[@renierp.duplessis4017]

2 minutes in - and it is clear - both Fiona and Edward is in for a shock - as the fog of war clears and reality dawns upon the West

[@JamesC785]

- that the russian emperor has no clothes ? We've guessed.

[@brianfreeman8290]

Always brilliant. Time and again I feel that I have a position on various aspects, and Fiona gives me a whole new set of angles to consider. So informed and articulate

[@ronaldgreene5733]

. . a sponsored post always spices things up a bit . . so over-the-top and articulate -- thank you . . LOL . .

[@marydupree27]

she is incredible

[@dbibbyma]

Yes, simply great talk and insightful insight. Lots of good points and comments. I have gained some knowledge.

[@wernertognetti5956]

Thank you very much to Mrs. Hill and Mr. Lucas for this excellent Interview.

[@SurfinScientist]

Another great interview with Fiona Hill!

[@danielhutchinson6604]

It seemed like more propaganda from western media?

[@philstanton231]

Interesting and informative interview - Fiona Hill is one smart lady, who says it like it is, at a level that is easy to understand - thanks to both of you.

[@melanieenmats]

What are you on about this is one of the people that caused the war and many in the last two decades. Are you complimenting her for lying with pretty language?

[@rockforester7908]

Yes.. Einstein said that if you can’t explain a thing simply you don’t know the material well enough. Or something like that.

[@MrTaloul]

Europeans and Americans need to except the new geopolitical reality of the raise of various countries such as China and Russia and Iran and India and Turkey....long gone are the days of western hegemony

[@JamesC785]

Long gone are the days of the russian empire.

[@MrTaloul]

@@JamesC785 You are focusing on one country yet I am informing you about multiple countries and regions...lol

[@disturbingdevelopment4308]

Agreed. As long as they keep their bullying to internal disputes, I have no problem with them 'raising'. That doesn't mean other countries are obliged to deal with them, though. All the countries you mentioned are ultra-nationalist or authoritarian and are looking to expand beyond their borders.

[@JamesC785]

@@MrTaloul Because russia is the odd one in your bunch of examples - it is in decline from it's empirical days - the European ex-empire in the greatest decline in fact (other than Hungary perhaps). All of the examples that you gave are struggling right now. A multi-polar world working in cooperation is the goal of us all in 'the West'.

[@MrTaloul]

@@JamesC785 the goal is western domination but they are slowly waking up to the fact that those days are over, you can't stop Iran and Turkey and India and China and list of other countries..infact you can't stop poland and Hungary....this is a new world order, and the west will accept the reality to the full extent after years have passed...you will see

[@npoliver2757]

November 2023 - it would be interesting to have Fiona Hill back now with her angles on -the DT impeachment- the lost chance of peace- the war, and the possible outcomes

[@tekannon7803]

Mr Lucas does a wonderful job in asking quality questions and one can only say the Fiona Hill delivers every single time with crystal clear, well-researched answers.

[@rossib6974]

There isn't a single English reporter on any mainstream narrative media having anything to question or say for that matter but putting same narrative explanation of Narrative as same explained repeat to conclude aim to get to narrative as it meant to propogandate to begin with !!!!!!!!Quality questioning my backside as I put it to you in plain normal.English polite langauge spoken in 21st Century short of 4 letter popular words used daily on mainstream screens including political shows . Your guys don't know how stupid they sound and look compare to any average rep or spokesperson from any Eastern countries 🤔. Even Taliban experts are more articulate and subjective than your lot .Phrases of lunatic and mad with Hitler, killer plus other labels which your side throw at Super power World leaders opposing your BS proves your side shortcomings in common sense reasons and desperation !

[@tekannon7803]

@@rossib6974 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. We live 2,000 kilometers from Kiev and the war gets closer every day. Have you ever noticed that the one thing you have in the whole world that is different from anyone else? Yes; that's right: your point of view. Have you ever noticed that even if you want to give it away, no one wants your point of view? Why? Because it's yours. You've done your research and come up with your conclusion---like everybody else!

[@BernieHollandMusic]

Dr Fiona Hill is a British-born American foreign affairs specialist who has spent her whole career working to expand US influence in Eurasia. She is a former official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs. She has a strong anti-Russian stance, focused on the person of Vladimir Putin, with analyses such as “Putin’s Personality Disorder" and “What If Putin Disappeared for Real?” One can observe from this that the Institute for War and Peace Reporting,Eurasia Foundation and Open Society Institute are seen as highly relevant stepping stones to a top level intelligence career: Hill became an intelligence analyst under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama at the National Intelligence Council where she, from 2006 to 2009, was the Intelligence Community’s senior expert on Russia and the former Soviet republics, including Ukraine. From 2009 to 2017, she worked at the Brookings Institutionin Washington DC, as Senior Fellow & Director, in the Center on the United States & Europe. She was appointed, in the first quarter of 2017, by President Donald Trump as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs on his National Security Council staff. She resigned her position on July 19, 2019, and returned to the Brookings Institution in 2020. On October 14, 2019, responding to a subpoena, Hill testified in a closed-door deposition for ten hours before a committee of the United States Congress as part of the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. In response to a question from that committee's chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff, Hill stated: "The Russians’ interests are frankly to delegitimize our entire presidency.… The goal of the Russians [in 2016] was really to put whoever became the president - by trying to tip their hands on one side of the scale - under a cloud." Hill is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

[@virgorising7388]

Why do you put that here? Any one could look it up, and did when she was testifying in the Judiciary Committee hearings on the phony impeachment of President Trump in the fall of 2019. We know who she is. She's also worked for Soros who was kicked out of Russia and his native Hungary. These people have been up to their ears in the rampant corruption in Ukraine. The impeachment was cut from whole cloth, the Russian meddling in 2016 election was a complete hoax and anyone involved in it has no credibility. The liberal new world order is what the rest of the world is disembarking and immediately boarding their connecting flight to the multipolar world order.

[@phillipchan6044]

Thank you for telling people who she really is

[@martingitter7400]

O7wq6a

[@davidbrowne5222]

@@phillipchan6044 From Hungary. Fiona Hill at the impeachment of president Trump. Fiona Hill made false statements. 👺😱

[@stevenmichaelpalazzolo3503]

So she is a Russiagater… a Bullshitter ..

[@andrewsmith3760]

Explain why Putin is more popular in Russia now than at the beginning of the war.

[@cwdcompany1054]

It's simple, as doped as the Russians are to Putin's true none provoked attack in Ukraine they see him as bold and courages. They see the West , Europe, dependency on Russian fuel as weakness. They also see the West indecisive response to Putin as weak. That is why Putin is more popular now. But I speak in faith God will deal with Putin for the murders and destruction in Ukraine.

[@blotski]

First and foremost the Kremlin controls all sources of information easily available to the population. Secondly, all criticism is severely punished so the extent of this support is impossible to accurately judge. Finally, leaders always ride a tide of patriotic popularity during military conflicts.

[@yep9710]

Always spot on. She points out to the power of fascism: swift&deep decision making. But the flaws always show in the end: lack of perspective by centralized power (around one individual). Stakes in Europe and US are about trading in democracy for fascism. Trump&Putin as leaders, Salvini&Le Pen&Orban&Co as enablers.

[@RW4X4X3006]

Because communists an socialists never thrived on fascism and centralized power. Got it.

[@yep9710]

@Shimmy Shai Normal procedures of democratic ruling can be temporarily bypassed/removed (for instance martial law as +/-fascist governance structure as an emergency mode). But when too many checks&balances of democratic decision making are removed, all you can hope for is honesty of the leaders to restore the democratic process as promised. In fascist long term governance, leaders shape society according to their will. In democracy long term governance, society shapes itself as a compromise between majorities and minorities. But this requires political commitment of civilians. It's the most difficult way, but the best way when all actors play their part.

[@lawrence1318]

@Shimmy Shai There's no such thing as global warming. You are brainwashed.

[@idobrikman4760]

Yep the ignorant!!!This war in Eastern Europe along with the energy crisis &high inflation recession &open border & destruction of the working class (in America america )does not happening because the patriots Trump and urban it happening because the globalist regime of Biden and the oligarchs who control him like Soros and Bill Gates . They also controlling the media in your country (whichever it is )

[@yep9710]

@Shimmy Shai Agree 100%. Your question about "civilian political commitment" is a hard one, very multi-layered. Take voting obligation by law (as in my country): it's one way to "force" people into political commitment. But erosion of this commitment starts with local politicians who advocate its abolition. Of course it doesn't stop there. Your point is absolutely true, but how to fill in the needs in you last sentence? Nobody knows. Best analysis of the problem I ever read was by Pankay Mishra in "Age of Anger- a history of the present" (2017), which is actually a description of the Age of Enlightment. His point: we're caught up in a catch 22. We're not only entangled in the web of our own values, historical events (climate change, internet...) create turbo dynamics. These maximize the strain on the pillars which support the "enlightenment platform". I am reading now "Putins people" by Catherine Belton. If you want a good reason to support Ukraine/oppose Russia, then I advice you to read it. It throws everything I thought about Russia in the garbage bin.

[@mariellouise1]

I’m so pleased I was able to listen to this. I know I know much more than I did in the beginning. You’ve answered many of the questions that were rolling around in my head with no outlet. I listen to “Pod Save America” by Crooked Media. I would suggest that Fiona Hill might be interviewed by them to great effect.

[@popart9350]

Thats Fine Research is your strength then lmao

[@PEdulis]

Brazil, India and other countries also question what the difference is between Russia invading Ukraine and the US, UK and other invading Iraq, Libya and other countries as well as overthrowing governements all over the world. Why should aggression by western countries be fine?

[@veronmath3264]

They are only recognizing their own legitimacy, not Putin, remember the western powers say other people are animals and they are the only people who have the right to tell you how to govern your country, which means whatever you do put the American interests first. American politicians use every weapon to weaken and attack others on what to do when their time is due.. Sanctions are dominating the world now, do your own maths.

[@artbasss]

Bruh

[@drakecassidy2942]

exactly! It's okay for them because they are following the agenda of their overlords. But with Russia going back to the gold standard, then we must turn them into the enemy. We here in USA are complete hypocrites.

[@petercornwell5880]

Easy answer, they’re all bad. It’s bad when the west does it and it’s bad when Putin does it. The people of the Ukraine deserve to keep their democracy and be free of an imperialist dictator who bombs maternity wards and whose troops engage in mass rape, even in the once ”pro Russia” areas (that obviously aren’t any more). Just as the US shouldn’t invade countries or engage in illegal drone strikes. If you condemn all wars of aggression then you’ll have a consistent moral code and won’t accidentally support any pro-war freedom denying dictators.

[@klim4838]

Deflection.

[@mk1st]

Putin isn’t crazy. He’s obsessed and focused. Hopefully he’s going to end up just a speed bump of history.

[@liameoin5416]

A most Significant analysis and clarifying contribution to this historicly momentious event. Thank you.

[@alicesmith6750]

Fiona Hill, got mad respect for her. She's a very knowledgeable, intelligent woman, who speaks facts. I still recall her testimony about Putin playing Trump. She was right then, she's still right now about who/what Putin is.

[@lanehewitt7685]

Facts?

[@5ty717]

Wonderful insightful grounded opinions. Thank you FH

[@ZambeziKid]

Jesus, where she get her news from, BBC?

[@lawrencebrown3677]

YES! It is the biggest manufacturer of lies in the world now. All smoke and mirrors.

[@aus187]

And where you get yours?

[@ZambeziKid]

@@aus187 Independent news outlets and journalists that do not automatically beleive the propaganda that their government tells them without proof.

[@pynn1000]

Ms Hill quoted sources, including ISW.

[@ZambeziKid]

@@pynn1000 International Sex Workers?

[@StankFernatra]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@coachking5208]

These two are so sad. Such intelligent people, and so lost. Delusional :(

[@disturbingdevelopment4308]

How's the weather in the Alt-verse?

[@waiki8223]

👍🙏💯

[@John-of8vr]

ok Sergei

[@coachking5208]

@@John-of8vr Thanks Boris.

[@kiaora7214]

The 🇺🇦 🇷🇺 War has not been on our media for many months. The world has forgotten and moved on 😔

[@karx11erx]

"Even the complacent Germans are waking up to the dangers of their irresponsible crazy pacifist approach to security policy". Nicely put.

[@imperiozorra4712]

judging germans you have to know a little more than second world war! germany is completely depending from usa. they do not even have a peace contract and the „greens“ are founded by the cia! don’t talk about things you do not understand!

[@MrPedophileMuhammad]

Ridiculous the danger comes from american neocons.

[@karx11erx]

@@imperiozorra4712 I am German and I live in Germany, bud, and what I know is that you are talking confused Reichsbürger nonsense.

[@karx11erx]

@john Mason The war is already going on, and it wasn't started by the west or by NATO; it's a result of Putin's wet super power dreams. In that light, your accusation is pretty pointless.

[@rodgerhempfing2921]

Bullies love pacifists, surprise

[@tiradoentertainmentllc.2517]

This woman is BRILLIANT and this is a brilliant conversation about Putin and his goals and motives and fears and why our vaunted democracies failed in containing Putin. Fantastic.

[@RawandCookedVegan]

Excellent interview. Thank you!

[@lynetteray2146]

Once again, Fiona is amazing!

[@stevenmadrid9350]

She's 100% wrong. Go look back what she said about Trump/Russia collusion.

[@FrancescoDondi]

Third world countries don't want to be forced to choose between blocks... but by staying neutral now they give China and Russia the message that forming an adversarial block is viable or even secretly supported by the world; and consequently will cause them to have to choose between blocks.

[@juliensalemkour5708]

So the Russians want to topple Zelenski and topple Kiev. Can you you explain that in further depth and provide evidence for that? How should that be in Russian interests? What are the military implications? How big of an army is necessary to take Kiev? When is the Kherson offensive finally taking place? Will Ukraine win?

[@feorh1919]

@@artandarchitecture6399 u do know that all ukrainian men have 2 choices: go to prison for a looong time or join the army? Awesome motivation

[@robbieelliot9491]

Little evidence us given, lot's of conjecture and opinion and bias.

[@philipfoster7269]

This is the first person who has pointed out that this is NOT the USSR we are dealing with. It is Russia. The implications are huge.

[@tomaskinoshta7589]

not really, only that the West underestimated Russian power.

[@kevinsummers1055]

Thanks Fiona. We need great people that study information with diligence. Keep it going. Thank you

[@mitzicowell]

I love how she doesn't let him interrupt.

[@John-of8vr]

Agree. It drives me crazy when interviewers do that

[@edwardfowle2404]

Wonderful Interview. Thank You

[@Steven-ze2zk]

"Putin is Pushing it up Our Bottoms", Fiona Hill on Russia's War in Ukraine THAT'S WHAT I (BRIEFLY) SAW!!!!!!!!!!

[@walterbrownstone8017]

She's putting it up your bottom and you like it

[@realitywins2177]

“We need to talk about it calmly,” but who should do that talking Ms. Hill? And the listening?

[@davidcadman4468]

Well, my dear boy/girl, The West must do the talking, calmly, as a good school teacher, to the less educated East who must listen to The Wests' lessons on the Rule of Law. Nothing less will satisfy The Western Oligarchs, than the subjugation of the Eastern Countries to the needs of The West. That includes the break up of Russia, China, and India into balkanized countries, the easier to resource and wealth extract, for The West.

[@jesan733]

@@davidcadman4468 it would be great if they broke up, especially Russia and China. Without their propaganda efforts and sabre rattling, the world could soon become much better, much more peaceful and cooperative. Your "resource extraction" conspiracy theory is dull and uninteresting, though.

[@dawoudalmajid1972]

@@jesan733 you must not have read the plan, and yet you make statements about the kind and fuzzy western corporations that have no interest in asset stripping.....?????

[@daispy101]

The quote about "the worst peace is better than the best war" is a quote from Erasmus ("The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war"), and one might consider why Erasmus held that view at his time vs. today.

[@yep9710]

No Geneva Convention, no Red Cross, no war criminal tribune.

[@worfoz]

The Pax Christiana, means “the Christian Peace,” which I used because the adjectival form is analogous to Romana. Erasmus was born in 1536, the year that William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the bible.

[@stephenhill545]

So russia would accept ceding ristov and belgorad to ukraine in the name of peace, and returning kaliningrad to Poland. Good idea!

[@greymouser8659]

Thankyou both

[@josephrapp]

I so admire and trust Ms. Hill's ideas. One would do well to heed her re this mess with Pu. (just cannot say his name as I cannot Tr. here in states.) I do want her to get out there more and comment on numerous media. It is Sept. and I have not heard much from her in last couple of months.

[@standalby6949]

Now we know why the cost of living as gone up in the west , they’ve just told us all how much these chicken hawks have spent

[@howardinothegreat136]

Stunning lady!

[@paulclissold1525]

What an amazing people the cossacks how do they do it stay on their knees so long.

[@jesusjuarezflores2196]

"To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal." Henry Kissinger. Amen. Have you heard it European NATO countries and Ukraine?

[@kukmica6422]

Yes we did, we did! But everything is better, than being a friend of Russia.

[@zvilender247]

To all viewers -- to see exactly where we are now, please read "The War That Ended Peace: How Europe Abandoned Peace for the First World War" By Margaret MacMillan.

[@johnsteed5754]

Great book

[@zvilender247]

@@lefeuvivant 1. 'I don't think people in Europe have any idea what real peace is' -- In case you live in Europe, real peace is what you see right now from the window of your home. 2. '..only temporary moments of re-arming and catching breath for the next round' -- Europe during the 19th century did have its skirmishes and regional wars and still, relatively, it was one of the most peaceful of all European centuries. 3. 'I did not read the book' -- Read it. It's a fascinating read. It contains insights as to what may come upon us all in case we fail to achieve a peaceful ending to the conflict in Ukraine. Current western unwillingness to negotiate with Russia is alarming and may cause the demise of western civilization.

[@zvilender247]

@@lefeuvivant 1. 'Real peace is not the arming of one side of a conflict and sanctioning the other side with the aim of destroying it, real peace is not living in anxiety for the consequences of doing that, real peace is not having foreign military bases on your soil as "protection" from an enemy.' -- You're absolutely right. The problems is that current western leadership is lacking in almost every aspect of brinkmanship and diplomacy. And as Barbara Tuchman puts it: "In government, the more complex the issue, the less qualified are the people who handle it." 2. 'every conflict can be traced back to last's meaning that the fire was never really extinguished and every breath of wind can bring the smoldering fire back into full force, as history and today clearly demonstrates' -- I don't see the Germans and the Danes go to war again, neither will the Scots and the English nor the Germans and the French. Some conflicts may indeed resume, while others most probably will not.

[@zvilender247]

@@lefeuvivant I've got a list of words that due to previous experiences in life, I would very seldom use. The word 'every' is quite near the top of that list.

[@zvilender247]

@@lefeuvivant It's been a pleasure to discuss matters with you. If, at times, I sounded a bit pretentious, than please forgive me. I wish all the very best to you and yours.

[@peterjensen3076]

Has Fiona done some in depth analysis/discussions on the political situation in Ukraine?

[@ivankowalski5009]

It doesn't seem so. She failed to mention one big reason why Zelenskyy will win the 2024 election, that he's made all the opposition parties illegal!

[@joeroubidoux2783]

Always enjoy your perspective

[@laogong52]

These two academics mention Russia not facing up to post imperial realities, if only they could see the huge plank in their own eyes. Being articulate and well educated is indeed dangerous when you can't see reality.

[@emotown1]

Academics in name perhaps. Definitely sly careerists who know their intended audience. We have 'historians' like that in the UK who get wheeled out, as safe pairs of hands, to flex their rather selective 'intellect' to bellicose ends. But what it amounts to is "We have always been the good guys and always will be. Hooray for being British! ". And the people do cheer! God, do they cheer.

[@phillipchan6044]

Finally someone smart enough to see through the deception of these so called "academics"

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Extremely interesting. I know for a fact that countries all over Africa perceive that they must remain neutral so they can maneuver for their own various reasons. Some reasons are economical. Some are political. Some are out and out graft. But whatever the reason, America and NATO cannot ignore it or Russia and a China will benefit hugely.

[@gregorylumpkin2128]

They've already benefited, thanks our greed and stupidity.

[@marktunstall4577]

The "Reason" is hands down graft. Political and economic reasons follow/joined at the hip to conceal the greed, corruption and rape of their countries, all about personal enrichment of those in power. Greetings from South Africa.

[@libbsupremacist9398]

Ahhmerica is weak trash now thanks to liberals

[@smillner771]

Excellent discussion, thank you IQ2. Best revelatory points for me (a) Many of the Putin "myths" were put out by Putin in his early years (b) Putin's emphasis on adaptability - seeing his objectives as being like a river finding a new path.

[@JamesC785]

Love the rat story - he admitted that he was scared by the rat. This explains in part his reaction to Ukraine fighting back & refusing to meet Zelensky - he's scared.

[@pyasoyobone8069]

This commentary just shows the stark contrast between how US and the West view Russia and how Russians view Russia and Putin.

[@robinpclarke]

More like the contrast between the Nato "free world" warmongering propaganda lies and the truth you can learn elsewhere e.g. graham phillips.

[@edblarney9456]

Sane Russians see Putin for what he is, they just often can't be public about it.

[@maikilreategui1271]

Isn't the US part of the west? If you are referring to Europe. Isn't Europe more eastward than the United States? I wouldn't call this western phobia, but there is a western hatred going around. Lately more than ever.

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Ed Try again pal, the United States of Isr3ahell is a *Bloated Corrupt government and operated by SatanicPedophiles and Bankers* “The Purpose of NATO Is to Keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down” -NATO 1st Secretary General

[@davidbrowne5222]

I remember Fiona Hill giving evidence at the 1st emplacement of President Trump. She was found not to be a not very truthful. She was fount out big time. Listening to her know she is still hasn't learnt from the Trump emplacement. 👺👺😯

[@ColinBarrett001]

Why do we have people like Johnson or Truss in number 10? - when we should have people of the calibre of Fiona Hill.

[@BlueSkyLtd.]

Fiona Hill is impressive; beautifully well-spoken, well-informed, intelligent, and truely the voice of reason in discussions of present day Ukraine!

[@Martin-qm2lg]

Thank you for this very smart, informative discussion to help see things clearly, know what’s going on.

[@TommyTCGT]

Biased bunch of lies. Surrender soon in Ukraine?

[@popart9350]

Oh my days are you being serious

[@kingjames6459]

This poor lady is talking through her hat.

[@750nut]

Sounds like a job interview for CNN

[@AK-df8qo]

It amazing how this woman got everything figured out, definitely expert :)

[@albirdie1630]

and how do you verify that???

[@slyderyder3491]

🤣😂

[@phoneblaster]

...she did not criticize America or the west when she was talking about in particular Syria .

[@toughr1506]

Because it was not the point.

[@AaronHahnStudios]

Hey! That book he introduced. .. It's right there on the shelf behind her! What are the chances of That!? 😛

[@danpalmer80]

They all do it.

[@AaronHahnStudios]

@@danpalmer80 Hey Dragon... How do you spell "Sarcasm" ?

[@danpalmer80]

@@AaronHahnStudios Hilarious. 😳

[@johnpaulcarter6770]

Noticed similar in a previous video - got the book, and it’s superb.

[@kmadge9820]

Hahaha

[@louisebean9428]

After listening to this, I think I have word overload!

[@RichPurdum]

My brain is exploding....Fiona rocks! If only our politicians had a faction of her intellect.

[@ivankowalski5009]

Are you serious?

[@axlslak]

Why isn't she in politics? I mean seriously... SHE is the type of person that should be a politician. Not the crooks that currently are politicians.

[@conallgeneral8136]

She artfully dodged the question about Johnson and the Lebedevs and Russian donations to the Tory party. Is Johnson a Russian asset ?

[@JamesC785]

I suggest that you watch that section again. I'd also ask whether you think that Johnson's government showed any excessive tolerance of putin's war & putin's arguments attempting to justify his war ? I think that Moscow's celebrations & crowing when Johnson was forced to resign answers your question.

[@robshirewood5060]

@@JamesC785 There are a lot of British people who celebrate the fact Johnson is going, and not from the Labour or Liberals either, he has facilitated the invasion of our nation by an army of enemies, and that is treasonous. Bojo has made our nation more dangerous and should be condemned for it along with the rest of the traitors.

[@JamesC785]

@@robshirewood5060 "an army of enemies" ?? What are you on about ?

[@abrahamdozer6273]

That would sure explain Brexit. Now there is a golden Putin success story.

[@oldgreybeard2507]

Johnson is just a Buffoon who should have never been an MP let alone PM. His dealings with Lebedev is typical of his thoughtless self centered behaviour. An asset! No just a Buffoon

[@thomasjamison2050]

The thing that gets me in this type of discussion is that for decades, such as I can remember, every discussion about the start of WWII includes a resounding condemnation of Chamberlain and his attempt to appease Hitler by giving him the German speaking parts of Czechoslovakia. Accompanying that is a comment about how the Allies could have stopped Hitler cold by intervening militarily and how that would have caused Hitler to fall out of favor in Germany. I have yet to hear anyone refer to that yet.

[@bruce_c_in_nz]

Replying to Thomas Jamison - you should join my circle of friends: they are bored hearing my views on the parallel between Hitler/Sudetenland and Putin/Crimea. Appeasement is the common link, and I believe in both cases there was not the popular will in any of the European countries that could have intervened at that point, and even less in the USA.

[@thomasjamison2050]

@@bruce_c_in_nz I think it a fascinating topic to discuss, but I wonder if everyone in the media is avoiding it so as to not bring up Germany's questionable behavior in the past. Don't want to offend them now that they are on the right side for a change.

[@ericconnor8419]

@@bruce_c_in_nz It has nothing to do with popular will, it is the will of the elites. They manufacture consent when they require it. The average person just wants to raise their kids and believes what they read in the newspaper.

[@irvingkurlinski]

Thank you, Fiona!

[@deborahloew-black5637]

Thank you Fiona for your views very realistic

[@chipndahla]

Fiona is always awesome. Thanks very much for putting this together. One aspect as a Swede: not just Russia's willingness to invade was scary, but also their horrible cruelty was strongly contributing to us joinin NATO. Everyone saw Bucha and thought: that could be my home town.

[@ROWBRONCO]

So EASY to write IGNORANT comments, … and even easier to get fully BRAINWASHED but the WESTERN MEDIA MAFIA CORPORATIONS 😲 Isn’t it little dude ?? 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 BAAAAAAAAH !!

[@tnndll4294]

It's just Russia being Russia. they don't get along with anyone.

[@Pnumi]

Everyone with two brain cells saw Bucha on the internet and thought Ukrainian propaganda is trying to pin this cruelty on Russia

[@alainjacquemin6592]

@+⓵⓻⓻⓶⓺⓻⓶⓻⓺⓼⓹whatsapp fake news as you like it

[@denisc.1282]

It was staged, u idiot 😅

[@jean-louismorgenthaler4725]

Thank you for this most interesting conversation. I'm though always amazed when some expert asserts that this or that is likely to be true because Putin or Lavrov said it. It seems obvious to me that these guys are always speaking within a tactical frame. What they say is part of their political and military action. They always try to lure everybody, be they voters, foreign leaders or journalists. We should always take what Putin says, not only with a pinch of salt, but rather as a move on an exchequer.

[@scottscottsdale7868]

I think that is exactly what Dr Hill is saying.

[@williamgibson2760]

Same with any other spokespeople from any nation........

[@jean-louismorgenthaler4725]

@@williamgibson2760 Sorry to disagree, William. Democracy leaders definitely don't "lie" the same way dictators do. They don't kill journalists, political opponents or people they blackmail. And they don't beat and threaten citizens when these citizens disagree publicly.

[@williamgibson2760]

@@jean-louismorgenthaler4725 I agree that not all the tactics you list are used in as overt fashion in “Democracies”, but I do think they have all been used covertly and/or incited by or conducted by contractors, and buried within the system or simply explained away as “social justice” or a “gun problem” or “radical right/left” etc.

[@jean-louismorgenthaler4725]

@@williamgibson2760 That's true. Democracies aren't as weak as dictators would like. Let's keep in mind that Putin's Russia also uses lots of hidden public or private services to harm those he has targeted. The FSE for sure and also that infamous Wagner Group, lots of trolls, and an amount of people Russia pays or blackmails.

[@Aussie-Mocha]

Hats off to you two! That was brilliant! Just subscribed ! Look forward to more conversations 👍🏻

[@hamzahhamdan2927]

Good work. Informative.

[@dagalfheim7056]

Brilliant analysis…can only hope NATO is tapping into this insight

[@ghost_vission2468]

🤢🤮🤡

[@investorrddd7634]

hi Fiona. i am ordinary civilian not involved in any political organization. Ordinary people are afraid of democracy because we see the double standards, especially with regard to previous colonial powers like Palastine . Zimbabwe and some south American countries ect from western powers, If Nato could focus on reversing the effects caused by these double standards. sanctions and giving money directly to the countries and not to people of influence, I am certain if this could be achieved it would be much more difficult for countries get support for war and the word would be a much safer place, As a person with no influence my only hope is that people like you could understand how we feel and get the people who can make a difference to understand that nobody believes or trust them when they try to push their selfish capitalist agender, for example, why did Nancy Palossi visit Taiwan instead of Gaza where she is needed,

[@kiraalialeeonfairythegreenone]

investor ddd- Your diversionary whataboutism is obvious. You are trolling this post. Ordinary people are not afraid of democracy. Living in a liberal, democratic, sovereign nation that espouses the values of freedom, independence, equality and respect for human rights is ... wonderful. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦💙💛

[@gidzzahc9747]

@@kiraalialeeonfairythegreenone You smartly answered this Investorr ddd, In all circumstances when democray is not needed its simply because those who do not what it ABUSE Human Rights,,just like Zimbabwe, Anyone who voices up gets in trouble . Ordinary people are not Afraid of Democracy , humans are smart to know what system is Better, Africans have different views towards this ,

[@ryanB74]

@@kiraalialeeonfairythegreenoneI travelled a lot and .. I'm afraid that in many countries, ordinary people are indeed afraid of 'democracy', because they don't now about it, their governments are faking democracy, and the instability, false understood 'freedom' leading in corruption, in most of pour countries, or emerging economies, and unlike in some European/N American/ and other few countries, it's not that simple. People are more for somebody to solve the problem. Now. That's why in many countries they accept dictators, most ordinary people wants simple life: shelter, eat, f**k and raise children.. in an relative predictability way. That's all dictators propaganda...

[@jasonperry747]

Well said... it's always whataboutism if you mention any of the past or current war crimes carried out by the US or UK, etc.... we 'care' about Ukraine since the invasion but not for the previous period when the Donbas was shelled and minorities were locked in buildings and burned to death.... Yes! The war is terrible and must end, but WHAT ABOUT all the other wars and literal genocides being carried out or funded by the West.... oh I wonder why Indonesia or African nations might not be 100% behind the powers who have murdered millions of people for profit... please.... if we REALLY care about the Ukrainian people we should have cared about them from 2014... and we should care about the Palestinians and the Syrians and the Ethiopians..... shouldn't we....

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

My neck is hurting from the spinning.... is Russia the real empire?!?!?

[@yegorzakharov8514]

Real empire? What does that even mean? What can be said is Russia is a great power. No way around that. They are against a NATO army, and winning decisively. They had withstood all of the Wests economic attacks, all while the West has and continues to drive itself to economic ruin.

[@robtristram8395]

Just read up about it. Read what Putin, his cronies and their media say. Yes, Russia is actually revanchist and imperialist.

[@treygarver7791]

Regan said They are the evil empire.

[@jamesgarner327]

Reagan was talking about the Ussr, like most conservatives from the 80's, he loved ethno-nationalists from eastern Europe, he'd probably like Putin a lot more than any commi...

[@edblarney9456]

They are trying to be their old Soviet selves.

[@danwylie-sears1134]

Yes, technically the battle of Stalingrad did happen in the USSR. But it was in the Russian FSR. And it's their standard for what counts as a lot of casualties. A few thousand casualties aren't going to get them to do another 1917. Getting rid of their tsar last time took them into a civil war with millions of casualties. The only thing worse than having a tsar is getting rid of one.

[@18_rabbit]

hilariously oversimplified and even wrong re the chicken/egg aspect of when tsar was 'got rid of'

[@danwylie-sears1134]

@@18_rabbit Nicholas II abdicated on the 15th of March, 1917, and was killed on the 17th of July, 1918. The Russian civil war, in which several million people died, began in late 1917 and went through the middle of 1923. Getting rid of the tsar and having mass death in their civil war were things that happened in the same country, close together in time. Not unrelated events separated by thousands of miles or hundreds of years. Whichever part of that you have a problem with, go see if you can get the history books changed.

[@philwasson6406]

Who shelled the power plant? And is this not the ultimate argument on that score?

[@dethtrain]

Good conversation 👌

[@tomaskinoshta7589]

if you like bogus UK narratives

[@DennisMurphey]

God Bless Fiona, she is a gift to us with clear thinking, logical mind and direct dialog. Thank You for posting. I will be checking in again. Dennis

[@janagregor6603]

It is time American citizens start questioning 240 years of war out of 275 years of existence.

[@amg5656]

As if we (the US) chose this war. Putin isn't going to quit undermining the US just because you are tired of confrontations. On the contrary, it will encourage him.

[@neilnelson79]

War is basically a natural state of most societies.

[@patmax9005]

@@amg5656 Oh Give Your Head A Shake ffs *YOUR PRINTS ARE ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY ESPECIALLY THE RESOURCES AT LEAST FROM 2012*

[@katinas1100]

Yeah, well start your philosophies once we finish this war because it's damn sure Russia isn't going to dissappear or sudenly stop what it's doing just because you're feeling like Socrate right now.

[@neilnelson79]

@@katinas1100 It look like we agree that the Ukraine war is where we are at for now.

[@janulf5278]

Last question: notional control over 46% of the world's grain production would be a good start.

[@himoffthequakeroatbox4320]

Fiona Hill: "" Donald Trump "What was that? And who is she?" She must have been climbing the walls by the end.

[@miclewis55]

Not a single mention of the Minsk agreements or the 8 year shelling of Donbas. …. Says it all really .

[@chrisdonohue1607]

Thank you, for truth.

[@rightrightrightuhhuhuhhuh6516]

Oh poor victimized russia

[@catnap387]

Minsk required that Russia withdraw its military before any further actions on both sides. Since russia invaded Minsk is no longer relevant

[@dennyr989]

So if Russia doesn't collapse what is plan B for Europe?

[@disturbingdevelopment4308]

Constraint.

[@aeye9772]

Freeze

[@colorcotton5199]

Background reasons are more important isn't it... Truth shall prevail

[@PoshLifeforME]

Anyone gazing at Calvin and Hobbes as you take it all in? I Took a lot from this discussion, thanks.

[@dprout3392]

Thank you Fionna Hill for your enlightening, clear, straight to the point coverage of the situation. With regard to her host, his lengthy introductions proposing answers before putting his questions out to Fionna is a very boresome interviewing technic. Thanks to both for an interesting show.

[@aidabird9447]

Who has engaged in wars during the past 30 years and has not ceased? Who is the #1 manufacturer of arms and spends trillions in maintaining military bases abroad? USA is the primary menace to world peace and keeps searching for enemies even in their closets.

[@lembergnative7731]

and yet...hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world would give their eye teeth to live here. Some are DYING to make their way here. just effing stop. America is not perfect, but it's the best we have

[@annagsl8086]

@@lembergnative7731 I have a feeling you might find that many of the folk that make their way to the US correlate with the places US corparations have Plundered natural resources to the benefit of shareholders NOT the indigenous population

[@brooklynlass2196]

Wrong.

[@helgardtmuller3254]

@@lembergnative7731 that is exactly where you are wrong. American arrogance....i will not live there if you pay me to do so

[@willaimoconnell9430]

Answer to the first and last sentence: China, Russia and the USA

[@johnlawrence8738]

Very rightly said we have been doing things very late. We miss the bus. We have slept for 20 years not planning to strike Putin who had built a strong base for his actions .

[@yamakawa511]

Fiona Hill is simply superb. Y

[@JohnJames6969]

according to the live map of Ukraine, Russia is eating up more and more Ukraine territory every day.. Take some time out and do some real research..

[@liberexcogitatoris1792]

Yes and "livemaps" is a US based and heavily pro Ukraine, and about two weeks behind on updating Russian territory gains.

[@robertmiller2173]

What a superb interview! I have just subscribed and look forward to more! Thank you!

[@inconvenienttruths7953]

Yeah. The misinformation, propaganda and fake news taken to the highest levels possible.

[@vincentanguoni8938]

So enlightening! Amazing to have the opportunity.. Listening to this!

[@Arcticstar69]

We are in no way suited for a war right now. We must foster our kids. The issue is also how we should foster them right...

[@ProjectHyena]

If there wasn't the app Telegram I would have fallen for this bs.

[@ronnydiehl7262]

oh yes, you have got the REAL trusted sources. Enlighten us what they say?

[@ballerblocks]

I actually agree.lol

[@ProjectHyena]

@@ronnydiehl7262 Get the app and get enlightened. Stop drinking the coolaid.

[@waiki8223]

Totally agreed!!!! Thank God for Patrick Lancaster, Graham Phillips, Scott Ritter and Eva Bartlett!

[@waiki8223]

@@ronnydiehl7262 check out my response. I'll let you do the reading.

[@leoyuanluo]

This conversation is loaded with what the west wants to hear, and the logics r navii to say the least.

[@marklouieadame]

Then why is it different result in the actual war sigh these guys are good story tellers

[@DB-stuff]

One intelligent person, someone that should be listened to.

[@toddleroux4745]

I did not hear a lot of data presented. She seems very mainstream. I found very little insight in this "interview" other than the pervasiveness of Western propaganda.

[@waiki8223]

So well said!

[@EmpireRules]

The way the discussion over election topic was carried out in Ukraine, United States and in Russia, it made it sound like as if anything fundamentally changes through such a process. As far as I’m concerned, here in the United States, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s the Democraps or the Retrumplican who are in power. Nothing ever changes. On the surface we are given an illusion of democracy via the election process however, behind the scenes, not a single democratic wish of the people is ever implemented.

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Shah Your partly correct. The dems are 1000% controlled by Isr3ahell. Whereas the Republicans are only 50% controlled. Trump got USA off foreign oil. We had Job Growth like never before under Trump. He opposed the NWO and was “Coup de tat” for it repeatedly. Governments worldwide are *Bloated Corrupt and operated by SatanicPedophiles and Bankers*

[@milos.pavlovic]

Have you seen the documentary The Century Of The Self?

[@EmpireRules]

@Abduljabar Amirbekov -if anyone embraces the teachings of Jesus, they should truly love everyone be that Jewish, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist and others. Doing otherwise, would be going against true Christian doctrine. Your statement of Jewish ruled USA will probably get you in trouble from the Influenceial Jewish community 🤣. And you’d be called an anti-semite. Sometimes, this term is used as a scare tactic by the Jewish community and the Zionists who’re staunch supporters of Israel and its apartheid regime like the one of former South Africa. The more appropriate word would be Jewish influenced American domestic and foreign policies, mainstream media, Hollywood and much more. In the States, now there’s a new trend of AIPAC backed Super PAC. Their primary nefarious objective are to stop progressive young people from getting elected in the office. Instead, they want the current complicit DemoCraps and right-wing ReTrumplicans to win where both make relentless promises that they will change the lives of the poor but execute none. In reality, behind the scenes, they bow down to IsraHell, Satanyahoo and the ilk along with their extreme racist policies.

[@JamesC785]

Shah - that's because the GOP block everything that the Dems try to do.

[@EmpireRules]

@@JamesC785 -I understand that. Do you not see that there is a marginal difference between DemoCraps and ReTrumplicans? If I go to a decent restaurant, I’m given hundred different options for salad dressings. But when I cast my ballot, I’m only given two. Need I say more that the system is rigged? If we do not recognize that, then we deserve every bit of austerity, hardship for the masses and repeated mistakes and expecting a different outcome. Einstein called that insanity. Peace ☮️

[@gj8683]

Why does he ask for a "brief" answer, and then even further toward the end a "one-sentence answer," to questions that cannot be adequately addressed in such ways?

[@SuperKwame1]

She is very beautiful woman and an intelligent woman! Fiona H.

[@zvilender247]

One wonders what would have been Ms. Hill's advice to the White House if Mexico would have signed a military agreement with China.

[@PhiloSurfer]

@@Poelstra13 Ukraine lost its sovereignty when the US installed Zelensky after the coup.

[@kelleylynch4490]

Her advice would probably be that you're a "Russian troll," no? These are one trick ponies and not that bright, clearly.

[@klim4838]

@@PhiloSurfer 😂😂😂

[@hmmcinerney]

@@PhiloSurfer Pootie talking points

[@hmmcinerney]

Because Ukraine is in Europe next to the countries it’s allied with. They share a joint threat.

[@loduke3905]

Love Fiona Hill, she is not only highly intelligent and acutely dialed in on Putin and his thought process including his wickedness. We need more people like Fiona serving our country AGAIN. Her and Julie Loffe are highly insightful and informative

[@jantcarlsson8452]

Are you serious? Do you really believe that this Fiona character has a peephole into Putin's brain? Then how come the debate? Why discuss? She can give MI6 everything they need to know 2 years in advance.

[@pickindimm6847]

Standing on the graves of $500,000 dead Iraqi children calling Putin wicked … if it wasn’t so pathetic and tragic it would be hilarious.

[@derekelliott3971]

Yes. Smart as a whip and devoid of BS. I hope Biden et al are using her insight at least in an unofficial capacity. Is that a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon on her wall? I imagine she's drawn to his subversive ways :)

[@loduke3905]

@@derekelliott3971 Agreed 👍 If you're interested in the article I pulled it from I pasted it below. If not, the short version is that, yes, she is helping with other's to council and give expert advice and insight to Biden and his administration. I did hear that she and several other Russian and Putin experts and analyst's like Michael McFaul are working with Biden in an unofficial capacity along with those of the Brookings Institution. Obviously the article is prior to the invasion BUT I enjoyed one of her videos recently where she said that Biden has done an outstanding job with Putin. She admitted she was pleasantly surprised and spoke about Biden's abilities to rally allies and lead the west. She also sighted his 40 years in foreign affairs and policy as well as his ability to listen to his advisors (unlike the previous president including Obama) and then act methodically and strategically. She also gave him kudos with his approach of using Russia's typical plays against them and using real intelligence to fight their lies, misinformation and propaganda. She signifes the different approach Biden has taken to release highly classified intelligence to allies prior to Russia's invasion and to ensure their support. She noted his planning and response to Putin's invasion and using real INFORMATION to cut off the Russian's BEFORE they could act on their next play. My person fav was when she said Putin has already lost this war and the repercussions of Putin's actions will have only weakened Russia and strengthened Ukraine, NATO, The West, and given warning to other dictatorships who might think of following in Putin's footsteps. She went on to say that Putin was embolden by Trump and with America too preoccupied by their own division and politics at home expected that Biden didn't have the resolve or desire to deal with Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Putin didn't read him well and in essence played into Biden's hands, it was a chess move and Putin was playing checkers. Article Below: Fiona Hill doesn't know whether President Joe Biden can lead Western allies to ward off Russia's threat to Ukraine. But unlike his predecessor, he's trying. Hill has a special vantage point on this slow-rolling crisis that US officials say could bring war in Europe at any moment. As a White House national security aide, she advised then-President Donald Trump on Russia and Ukraine -- and became a star witness in impeachment proceedings that resulted from his conduct. *Now, outside the government as a Brookings Institution senior fellow, she's among the Russia specialists Biden has consulted as he revives foreign policy priorities shared by every president since World War II except Trump.Biden has rallied NATO on Ukraine's behalf.* After Trump pressured Russia's beleaguered neighbor for his personal benefit, Biden has steeled Americans for shared sacrifice in defense of Ukraine's right of self-determination. After Trump deferred to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the US government's own intelligence agencies, Biden has deployed those agencies' tradecraft in a multi-pronged transatlantic effort to deter Russian aggression. "You couldn't get a sharper contrast," Hill observed in an interview. For the moment, at least, she sees Biden's approach paying some dividends. As described in her recent memoir, There Is Nothing For You Here, Hill followed an unusual path to becoming one of America's leading experts on Russia. Raised in a working-class family in Britain, she parlayed academic scholarships into advanced degrees from Harvard and an analyst's job at the National Intelligence Council beginning in 2006 during President George W. Bush's administration. Witnessing Britain's industrial decline helped her understand the populist appeals Trump rode to the White House. But the celebrity real-estate developer's handling of foreign policy in the Oval Office -- driven not by expertise or the national interest but by his personal experiences, impulses and interests -- was like nothing Hill or her national security colleagues had ever seen. "There's no Team America for Trump," Hill recalled. "Not once did I see him do anything to put America first. Not once. Not for a single second." It showed in Trump's praise for the authoritarian leader of Russia, an American adversary that had boosted his finances as a business executive. It showed in his reluctance to embrace America's mutual defense commitments to European allies, which for decades have constrained Russian behavior; instead, Trump treated NATO as what Hill called a "protection racket." Most notoriously, it showed in Trump's attempt to squeeze Ukraine's President for manufactured dirt on Biden to help his 2020 election campaign. He held up American military aid as a political lever as Ukraine faced the long-running Russian military threat that now has the entire world on edge. "All this did was say to Russia that Ukraine was a playground," Hill said. At home, Trump softened Republicans' once-hawkish approach to Russia. Today, the leading Fox News hosts and other conservative voices -- "the ultimate stooges," as Hill calls them -- buttress Russian arguments as armed conflict looms.

[@melanieenmats]

You guys are mental. She is a deep state neocon, warmonger, and neocolonialist, looking only to keep western dominance regardless of the lives lost in other countries. She may be intelligent, but she is more evil than she is smart.

[@KodaGSD-uf3hg]

Absolutely correct button pushing he s laughing

[@lanehewitt7685]

"Don't believe a word Putin says", unless he says this isn't about NATO because when he says that he definitely means it? 🙄