Stephen F. Cohen: The Ukrainian Crisis - It's not All Putin's Fault (Recorded in 2015)

Why Cold War Again?
Stephen F. Cohen, Professor Emeritus, Russian Studies and Politics, New York University and Princeton University; Contributing Editor, The Nation
In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club
The consensus view in Washington and in the U.S. mainstream media is that the Ukrainian crisis, which some have called the worst international crisis of our time, is due solely to Russian aggression under President Vladimir Putin. Stephen F. Cohen’s view, on the other hand, is that U.S. policy since the 1990s is largely responsible, and that unless this is acknowledged at least in part by Washington, no successful negotiated end to the crisis will be possible.
Professor Cohen’s Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives: From Stalinism to the New Cold War and his The Victims Return: Survivors of the Gulag after Stalin are now in paperback. Come hear the provocative views of this influential and noted Russian scholar.

[Adam Montserrat]

Rest in peace, Stephen F. Cohen. He died in 2020. If only he still lives to see what happens today...

[thesilkpainter]

If you wanted him to rest in peace surely you wouldn't wish for him to see this now.

[rrbimmer]

I thnk that all the time. I followed him for years, and he is right!

[Philip Angelo]

@georgio jansen I know what you're saying too and your wrong.

[Bogdan Baudis]

"He died in 2020. If only he still lives to see what happens today..." Judging from his fellow Prof Marshmallow (I can't resist, sorry) ... he would double and triple down explaining how Ukrainians are being guilty themselves of having the temerity to install toilet seats in their house only to tempt the angelic Russian to rip them and sent to the places in Siberia without running water ...

[Prof E]

Such a great man. We definitely need him now.

[Isabella Jones]

We miss him, badly. Now, more than ever, the world needs this balanced and intelligent kind man. RIP.

[wally]

One of the very small group of the most honest, accurate, articulate scholars re Russia...and the Soviet Union before that. I often go to the internet or Stephen's books he wrote...listening & reading his words. I miss him terribly, he such a rare individual and from all I know of, he is a fine human being and there are almost no one near his knowledge or his wonderful way of communicating. Knowledge is accumulated and recalled more...and better...when we have a man who speaks the way he does; I listen to him for hours, he never wastes words. A Russian interviewer, Sophia Sheverdnedze (?) said she loved it when Stephen came and she got to interview him. Sophie on the video interviews (I know) had chemistry with him on the time spent, she'd light up with that beautiful smile she has been blessed with. I dislike it when we use the great, the good giants...and Stephen is still our fine, fine giant for truth and goodness. Oh, to have more of his kind, to have his sort in our foreign affairs. I think it'd be like a miracle. The U.S. is so far gone.

[Magomed K.]

I’m just astonished by his geopolitical knowledge, deep understanding of foreign policy, Russia, its history, Ukraine. He speaks clearly and thinks very rationally. I definitely want to read his stuff.

[Magomed K.]

@Saelind thanks for the advice, I’ve just started his latest book “war with Russia”.

[Saelind]

Read his book "War with Russia?" Also, "Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives", and "Bukharin and the Bolshevik Revolution". The latter not related with the current conflict but a good book and very interesting read, regarding one of the most important political figures of the USSR until late 30's, which is not much talked in the west.

[Joseph Vahidi]

Professor Cohen said it all. It's on us to do more research through independents sources

[Traiano Wellcome]

The young have forgotten and the old have died. RIP Prof. Cohen.

[Frost Flower]

Except for Biden.

[Ganesh Gunaji]

And we shall soon repeat their mistakes, sadly.

[Vova Keep]

@Luke Chilton Okay, let me explain the situation in simple terms... In the west of Ukraine, Nazism and Russophobia are very dominant. The descendants of Bandera veterans who fought on the side of Hitler against the USSR live there. During the coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014 (the so-called Maidan), the oligarchic government (current) suppressed the opposition (anti-Maidanists) with the hands of the Nazis. Many left oppositionists were shot and imprisoned for many years. In 2014, the Nazis burned several dozen people alive in the Odessa House of Trade Unions. The boys Zhudov and Sharov were shot from the windows of the nationalist "Prosvita" on Rymarskaya in Kharkov. And much more. The new government of Ukraine armed the Nazis from Western Ukraine and sent them to the Donbass (Eastern Ukraine), where there are many ethnic Russians and anti-Maidanists. First of all, Ukrainians shot civilians from tanks (it was May 9 - Victory Day over Nazi Germany - the main holiday in Russia). The armed forces of Ukraine bombed the civilian population (its own citizens, ethnic Russians and anti-Maidanists) with the help of aviation. Ukrainian Nazis killed, raped and executed civilians, drove them into the basements of their houses. In response, Russia sent its troops there and rebuffed them for several years in a row. Many refugees fled to Russia after the Ukrainian genocide. Gradually, patience snapped, and Russia decided to conduct a full-scale operation to suppress Nazism once and for all. Today, the Azov battalion has been holding hostages at the Azovstal plant for more than a week, but the West is presenting it as if the civilian population was hiding from the Russians at this plant. Why didn't the Russians kill them along with the civilian population? Don't you think this is strange? Civilians are hostages of the Nazis. Prior to this, the Nazis hid in residential areas and deployed multiple launch rocket systems right outside residential buildings, they always used civilians as human shields.

[Melina Munk Kirkegaard]

RIP professor Cohen, what an honerable human being bringing deep knowledge and wisdom, brilliant performance.

[Raymeester]

He tried. He really tried.

[Munguci D. Etriga]

Steve F. Cohen was and is brutally spot on: yesterday, today and tomorrow. RIP.

[Hanh Chu]

The worms had a feast: eating all and every words of Cohen's utters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ2xiX6FeM2cbtk

[AR Frances]

Prophetic. He speaks so clearly if only people would listen or would have listened.

[Frost Flower]

Wow and this was in 2015 before he died. :( He even said that NATO died in Eastern Ukraine. This man deserves to live a long time. May he rest in peace. 🙏

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Alex Wolf Russian as a word did not exist 300 years ago. Rus was NOT Russian. Neither Ruthenian. When Kyiv was a city Moscow was a birch forest. Crimea belonged to Tatars and before then to Greeks, Goths and who knows what but NOT Slavs. Albanians are one if not the oldest people of Europe.

[Alex Wolf]

@Bogdan Baudis Ukraine, Ukranian state, Ukraine as a country exists only since 1917. Beside Albania you're probably one of the youngest western experiments in modern europe. Ukranians are an invented people, there is no such thing hystoricaly! Just as Albanians. The first Kiev state was made by eastern Slavs. It was called the Kiev Rus. And the area now under Russian control in east ukraine was only ever Russian and nothing else. Donetsk Lugansk and Krimea was always russian, slav, and russian orthodox. Not Ukranian orthodox :))) That's also an modern experiment. Look up "Slavo Serbia" if you're gonna quote me 18th century history. Also, just because some catholics took you under their wing in the 18th century doesn't make you a country nore state nore more catholic nore more western as you would like :) bye bye!

[Lunatica Iri]

This should be heard by everyone today. Great talk, so actual! 👏

[IreneMGonzalez]

I so wish Prof. Cohen was still with us, sharing his knowledge on this global crisis.

[Michael Novak]

@paladro America created the Ukraine problem so it has sla excuse to spend money

[Path]

Those are the notes I took from the video that I agreed with.

[Path]

@Luke Chilton 1) This is about political control of Ukraine. Period. 2) Ukraine must not be divided & must be a neutral buffer state. 3) Russia will be a valuable ally against CCP & shouldn't be alienated. 4) Ukraine's government must respect minority languages & allow some regional autonomy.

[Luke Chilton]

@Path This decision to move to closer ties with Russia came after the poisoning of the prior president who was anti-Russian and only won (during the orange revolution) after a third party vote counter and revoting took place.

[Dojocho]

The feeling you have when you find truth...priceless

[Tasha Lorm]

You realize he has done it before he deceased in 2020 (RIP Dr. COhen)

[Love Rov]

So important to listen to this. Especially in times like these! Listen to that man! May he rest in peace!

[1LaOriental]

Noam Chomsky wrote Manufacturing Consent for a reason…

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Mike o' Glen That too 🙂

[Mike o' Glen]

@Bogdan Baudis Ah ha! So you are Polish?

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Alex Wolf Слава Україні і ганьба Росії !!!

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Mike o' Glen It was not work when I belonged to "organization". It was a calling. The name was Solidarność.

[stephane laub]

Impeccable. Lucide, cultivé et d'une grande intelligence. Malheureusement, je doute que l'histoire humaine continue dans ce sens.... Merci, et repose en paix prof Cohen

[nahum habte]

Its amazing how everything he said was so on point. I am glad i heard him talk back in 2015, it makes it very easy to see through the propaganda

[R K]

Same here. I followed the issue properly back in 2014 and can easily see through the tremendous western propaganda now.

[Frank Garofalo]

I had the honor of attending this lecture.. What a wonderful combination of intelligence and the ability to convey his message in such lucid and plain spoken terms. He could see far ahead in 2015 what our leaders can’t see now. R.I.P.

[John Grant]

You said it.

[Frank Garofalo]

@S J Tulsi Gabbard The Grey Zone

[S J]

What do you think now? Who is among him that has similar stance and understanding, cause there seems to be none other than John Mearshiemer.

[Noob Streamer]

All respect to Stephen F. Cohen this need to be shared everywhere in this day!

[What Do You Think...?]

Dear Fellow Americans, Please donate your tax refunds to Ukraine. Attention: Azov Battalion

[sdlkfjh asiodf]

@Bogdan Baudis why do you speak so pompously? What do you want to proof keyboardwarrior? If you want to destroy anyone go to the battlefield.

[Bogdan Baudis]

@sdlkfjh asiodf I am partial to my kin being killed, what do you think? That all that is just a mental exercise?

[sdlkfjh asiodf]

@Bogdan Baudis what do you mean by that??

[Bogdan Baudis]

@sdlkfjh asiodf ... Nov 15th: ... and now I can see even more clearly whom I should destroy ...

[wally]

I miss Mr. Cohen very, very much. He is one of the most articulate, honest and effective authorities on Russia and much else. We still have his audio/video material that is very good...and his books, his interviews. Oh, that we had many more like him, esp. now.

[Elena W]

This rings 100% true today. He was my favorite Western scholar on Russia by far!!!

[Alex Wolf]

@N T He's a Ukranian Zelensky boy that's why :)

[Petr Zubets]

@N T he is a troll himself, don't mind

[N T]

@Bogdan Baudis why being so angry

[Bogdan Baudis]

Really ... trolling, trolling, trolling ...

[Harry Leimgruber]

one of the best speeches, underlined with great knowledge and details!

[Kevin Johnson]

EVERYTHING Cohen said has become a reality.

[Taka_JP]

I see our world walk towards the nuclear crisis day by day. We all watched what Professor Cohen tried to tell us. We cannot rewind the clock, so we have to take another action, which, I believe is not to pour more weapons into the battlefield.

[Congo-Kinshasa]

Professor Stephen Cohen, thank you very much for your lecturing. It is the best I have ever heard lately from US.

[Tarhunta]

Finally, a voice of reason.

[Joscelin Trouwborst]

Wow, one of the best talks I have been listening to since the confrontation has turned hot in Ukraine. It describes very well that if one labels the other as enemy and treat it like that, it will become that enemy eventually. It seems to me that this already backfires to us as western developed states and poor developing states more than it affects the other. Moreover, the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world cannot be stopped. If we keep opposing instead of embracing it, it will be to our own peril.

[spkz0r]

@E_x_c_u_b_i_t_o_r_e JiYsB Yeah, Russia was the heroes in Syria for sure. Bombing civilians, gassing them and having Wagner torture and execute deserters on video. 100% hero material! (ohwait, this is sarcasm)

[M C]

@Mollie Stanton yes , elections

[Mollie Stanton]

@M C the US has been instrumental in the leadership of Ukraine.

[ANGEL]

Russiagate now. They need to make PEACE.

[M ADAR]

What Cohen said on 1.07.01 in 2015- and since what had happend today; this guy had deep inisght; bless him

[Rubber Stamp King]

RIP Prof. Cohen. I think you saw what was coming and what we are witnessing now.

[Athena Koios]

What a wonderful conversation. Thank you

[TheRantingRooster]

Such a sane voice of reason. We lack this today.

[john smith]

This guy tells the truth

[Arash]

What a cleaver, honest, pragmatic honest man. Thank you sir!

[TheEmmef]

What a modest, relaxed and thoughtful experience. I miss that!

[Chris Eworko]

Thanks so much Proff Stephen for your well explained interview. That's real issues. Thanks again

[ali reid]

Congrats to all that found their way here in 2021 and 2022, not to rubber stamp this analysis, but out of commitment to understanding contemporary events from a historical context, and from a variety of perspectives. Peace to the people of Ukraine and Russia.

[Felix]

Wow. Good to hear this again. Share this with a family member or someone you know that needs to hear it. So perspective and truthful. Still rings true today, please SOMEONE listen..

[IBMK Nederland]

How did you hear anything huh ?

[800 k 7]

I should point out that when diplomacy end, disrespect and anger lead to a fight that may turned fatal. Prof. Cohen is among the best historians of our time. What is happening now is the lack of respect among empire!

[Mollie Stanton]

This is the first time I've heard Professor Cohen, and I learned a lot! We need to hear from more experts like him, who have studied a particular country or region for 50 years. The students who have taken his courses were very fortunate. It would be great to hear his thoughts about what is going on in 2022. Thank-you, Commonwealth Club, for this very informative talk and q and a.

[Nino Pavkovic]

Check out Scott Ritter

[MrVaticanRag]

It now 2022 - this needs to be shared with all before it's lessons are forgotten like all lessons of history.

[Alex Wolf]

@Bogdan Baudis 🎸And now you do what they told ya! 🎸And now you do what they told ya! 🎸And now you do what they told ya...

[Bogdan Baudis]

Which ones? Like those of Munich 1938 maybe?

[Piotr Kraczkowski]

Prof. Cohen's profound knowledge is suspenseful and convincing. Many thanks for the lecture and discussion. :-)

[Martha Hooker]

At last someone that tells it like it is! 👏

[Calvin Chung]

A lot of wisdom,sense and sensibilities in Prof Cohen's speech!

[Agent Apple]

Wish everyone could hear this.

[Dredger46]

Professor Cohen brilliant performance and he's completely right today.

[Jackey Lee]

There are always 2 sides of the story. We usually hear the news and comments from the major news media such as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN etc. It is quite informative to hear from other professionals on the same topic and get a different perspective on the same subject.

[György Hirschléger]

Russian state media is always tells the truth 😁😁😆😆!

[Mollie Stanton]

@Mike o' Glen He sounds like a bot or Ukrainian nationalist, playing the same record with blinders on. I'm thankful for Professor Cohen who fleshes out the picture.

[Mike o' Glen]

@Bogdan Baudis I cannot dispute that Bogdan! I have read tour comments with interest.

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Mike o' Glen I am what I am.

[Mike o' Glen]

@Bogdan Baudis OK Bogdan, will you tell me which Organization you reprresent?

[Andriod Cellphone]

I can listen to him forever..

[AT]

I only came to know Emeritus Cohen today. RIP. He was an honourable man....only a few left in America.

[Apple New Orleans]

He was a completely right 7 years ago and he's completely right today.

[elangelYT]

@Bogdan Baudis Go ahead and tell me what is wrong? I bet you think "pUtIn iS CrAzY aNd hE iS BaD". Gtfo normie

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Alex Wolf Boring trolling.

[Cheri]

That made us think. You are dearly missed ❤️

[Beadybonce]

Fascinating. David Starkey, British historian also gives a brilliant analysis

[Alex Wolf]

@Bogdan Baudis 🎸And now you do what they told ya! 🎸And now you do what they told ya! 🎸And now you do what they told ya...

[olga Ker]

@Pratyush Ojha he can’t. He is suffering from Russophobia. He has already left to many comments full of hatred here. He is either a troll or just a lost case.

[Pratyush Ojha]

@Bogdan Baudis i wish you would listen and learn. you might stop being so angry all the time.

[Pratyush Ojha]

@Bogdan Baudis i wish you would listen and learn. you might stop being so angry all the time.

[Bogdan Baudis]

@Svetlana Noam Chomsky: good linguist, logician, mathematician. I wish he limited himself to these.

[Cloud Lion]

I'm so grateful for his wisdom. And he is absolutely right. Anyone who is honestly giving the situation more than a cursory glance can see this. Too bad our leaders hang us all out to dry in the USA and Europe. This is an existential threat for all of us. Economic fallout is already upon us.

[a frickin american]

I agree. I have heard him on Coast to Coast several times, also he was a frequent guest on another radio show I can't quite remember at the moment. Unfortunately there are few voices like Cohen's speaking out today. We have to make it clear we reject the insanity.

[Larry Richardson]

Excellent and prescient analysis.

[Gaston Modest Kaziri]

Thank you so much Prof. Cohen for understanding the route causes of the crisis currently in the world as regards to Russia-US mistrust relationship and Washington double standards in international relations. I am very well convinced that if there no Russia, China, India, Iran and Japan, we should be now living in horrible world because Washington understands nothing other than " you are with me or with them"!

[Claudia Teve]

Thank you, thank you! We miss you! Rip Professor

[Mila Caceres]

Excellent piece. Good near term historical perspective worth your time.

[Sasha A]

One thing I have noticed in many of these talks, is that so many people phrase their questions very poorly. Given that these people in the audience are usually highly educated, it is quite astounding that many have failed to paraphase their questions and thoughts more succinctly for the benefit of others.

[Moh MRH]

RIP Stephen and may god bless your soul

[imre matajz]

Unwittingly, the most prophetic statement was made at 1:09:37...We are out of time! How awfully true is that.

[telly how]

True. He is missed especially now.

[Cheri]

Thank you, Mr Cohen,a voice that critical thinking analysis

[Mr D]

I stumbled upon Professor Cohens speech videos (not this one) but that talks about the tension of Ukraine and Russia and was so mesmerized by how factual and on point he was and so I decided to start following him until I sadly realized he has passed away. Reading up on his biography this man has dedicated his life to knowledge and there is probably very little people that can match his expertise in Russian-Eastern Europe affairs. Rest In Peace

[E Roed]

This aged well

[BWAK13]

Glad to see so many recent comments on this video. People reviewing the history for themselves instead of swallowing what imperialist legacy media presents.

[ANGEL]

I saw this coming too! Great lecture, once again!

[Commonwealth Club of California]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[Mister Methuselah]

Stephen Cohen = Vindicated & Brilliant...👏👏👏

[Dub Jedi]

It's so easy to forget this was recorded 7 years ago. He may has well be giving (and I would argue he is) giving commentary and context to the Ukraine situation in 2022.

[The Bell]

What comments are you looking for? If you do have questions, ask, and I will answer them. Watch channel of Patrick Lancaster. You'll be amazed by the difference of what media tell you and the reality. Also there's a channel of Zuby. He had an interview with a guy from Chile who married a Ukrainian lady, is living in Kharkov, Ukraine, and is scared for his life for telling the truth about the situation in Ukraine.

[Acoustic Motorbike]

How insightful and apt. This could have been given last week. Wow.

[Ιωαννα Ιωαννου]

and also Prof. John Mearsheimer's seminar at the University of Chicago!! Great analysis by both!!

[Ch W]

It is great, amazing to hear that and to listen to. 🖐. Ishould be attached to every shallow and not truthful channels in the US like CNN, ABC, N..etc..and worldwide.

[renato]

Excellent honest man. Why the American politicians don’t listen to him ..?

[Pratyush Ojha]

this is so sad to hear. the missed opportunity and pain and the anger. i am no longer optimistic about the future.

[Marl123]

He had such an insight into US/Russian relations and how the Ukraine issue could be solved. What a mess this has turned out to be, perhaps a few wise men could have listened a little closer to this man who was such an expert in this area and we wouldn't have this tragedy that is happening now in the Ukraine.

[Juan Francisco Urrusti]

RIP Prof. Stephen F. Cohen, PhD.

[ANDRÉS R TORRES]

USA: Bury the truth, and what we say goes. Result: Make certain that a difficult situation becomes an unsolvable catastrophe.

[ELENA SAKHA]

Great scholar on Russia. This is a huge lose. RIP..

[Aka Dee]

I be so interested to hear your take on today’s events….

[Jody Justice]

This was in 2015?? See where we are now in 2020, if this guy saw it coming, where are the geniuses in the WH that should have been as knowledgeable?

[Michael Petrovich]

Sad that prof Cohen is not with us but at the same time i wonder how saddened he would be by these anti Russian hysteri taking hold on the West.

[M C]

@Pete Schult for sure. Often the case. People figure this out when the talk. Something American politics is lacking.

[Pete Schult]

@M C Good to hear. We may be more in agreement than either of us realizes.

[Pete Schult]

@M C Yes, Russia invaded Ukraine and violated international law in doing so and they need to withdraw to the negotiating table. We should oppose them in the same way that we opposed the US's illegal invasions of Iraq, Vietnam, Guatemala, Mexico,… and in the same way that we opposed JFK's illegal blockade of Cuba. Oh, and if you support(ed) any of those operations, you might want to cool your hypocritical stance on Russia.

[M C]

You can see it both ways right? Russia invade Ukraine. That's a good reason to be anti Russian right now. Fighting is stupid.

[socionomic]

Great lecture and a good pairing with John Mearsheimer's lecture "Why is Ukraine the West's Fault?".

[Mollie Stanton]

@Ocean Wave 😔

[Ocean Wave]

Honestly, if I had been the industrial military complex, I would have created an enemy out of Russia; then find a pawn who volunteers to fight Russia to death. Everything turns out like what we see today...

[Cook! with Cel]

@Анатолий Бронштейн i didnt get to finish watch it but i will for sure. It was going really good too

[Анатолий Бронштейн]

Came here from Jacques Baud's interview to Grayzone. Another insight into the war in Ukraine.

[Sue Templeton]

@a frickin american I loved the Vladimir Pozner video watched it just before watching this video... both so very good. Hope you're sharing them all currently like I am. :)

[Rajnish Kumar]

It's only 10 minutes that I have watched. This person's each and every word is true. What a great intellect. Prof Meirshiemer and he both advocates this policy. They should be given steering of foreign affairs. Comedian Zelensky should have watched this

[Pat McKeon]

If he had recorded this before 2004, I could accept more of it

[Deborah Loew-Black]

Very interesting helps ( sadly) an understanding of where things are today re USA Ukraine , Germany, France; Europe & of course the relationship to Russia . Thank You

[Josh Bell]

I wish we had his commentary today

[Maharaj Durai]

Really miss Mr Cohen, his parting was a great loss.

[Cebis Picis]

thank you so much for providing English subs

[lordrobert12]

I wish you were still with us Dr Cohen!! We need your wise counsel!!❤️🇺🇦🇷🇺❤️

[c a]

Prof Cohen offers us by far the most profound and intelligent view on how the current Ukraine crisis came to be.

[Howard Lee]

More exact analysis than any others

[SelvaKanthan SK]

Watching this now, this is so spot on today!!

[Jacob Zaranyika]

Thank you🙏 Common Wealth California We have a common problem. Leadership and defending of human rights and democracy

[Sam Ruttenburg]

Should be required listening today. RIP Mr. Cohen, you are missed

[Lisette Sanabria]

Cohen is irreplaceable. Such wisdom, knowledge and courage. He did not fear going against the grain. All those decades of wisdom would be so useful now.

[John van Heerden]

A Very rare voice of intelligent analysis in a very volatile field.

[Florence Oztas]

Very insightful indeed.

[Oren Lee]

Как это было своевременно, но малозначительно, в сравнение с силой пропаганды и лжи.

[Jean-Paul Viaud]

Wise words by Cohen. Sadly he passed away and his opinions will never be heard again by Washington.

[Keith De Cesare]

More people should have watched this

[ValCalif]

🚩 (8:50) Ukraine, (15:28) NATO at Russian borders, (17:28) Meddling in Russian internal affairs in the name of democracy, (19:45) Ukrainian government refused to end a civil war

[gtx332]

Wow I thought this was about 2022 until I saw 2015. Still just as relevant

[Moe Meghji]

Nice to get a balanced perspective on the US Russia Dynamic

[Roxanna Marinak]

How relevant this is to what is happening today... Stephen Cohen was way ahead of the game in understanding. what would becoming what is happening today.