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.

[@TheMap1997]

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

[@nosuchthing8]

I have no comment

[@georgiojansen7758]

he will eat his words

[@jacquelinesmit6467]

@@georgiojansen7758 He is a Class A professor,he knows exactly what he is saying

[@georgiojansen7758]

@@jacquelinesmit6467 i also know exactly what I'm saying

[@petrsovicka]

Perhaps, it's better he does not have to watch the mess, slaughter and nuclear threats hanging up above that all.

[@snab032]

RIP prof Cohen from Russia. In addition to the fact that you were an Old Wise Jew, with a capital letter and in the best sense of the word, you were also the Great honest, unbiased explorer of Russia. We deeply regret the loss of such a significant person who has advocated full-fledged cooperation between Russia and the United States since the end of the Cold War. A person who saw peace for the entire planet in this cooperation. From Russia with love!

[@drmodestoesq]

And now you're sending your love to the Ukraine. Just like the Molotov breadbaskets you were dropping on Finns in 1939.

[@vicelguapo6911]

I'm still trying to figure out how it all went so wrong, when all of these events were kinda predictable. As an American I feel like the frog in a slow boiling pot. Peace and diplomacy is the only way out. Putin will not go away anytime soon, he'll be leading Russia long after Biden retires. so as much as it hurts to say this, Ukraine will have to realize that they should evacuate their citizens to western Europe and let the Russians have what they want. or all of Ukraine will be a wasteland and things could escalate into a nuclear war all over Ukraine.

[@rak2332]

@@drmodestoesq Do you even know the difference between Soviet Union and Russia?

[@snab032]

@@vicelguapo6911 See Patrick Lancaster. This is an honest American who shows the truth, the video titles are in Russian, because if he calls his reports in English, his account will be immediately deleted, as they did with Russia Today and many other Russian English-language channels.

[@snab032]

a little about the history of the conflict , it is better since 1991 , but it will be enough from 2014 . When the Nazis , with the total support of the United States , committed a bloody coup and overthrew the legitimate President Yanukovych ., they immediately banned the Russian language .Donbass (a region close to Russia and populated by a Russian-speaking population) spoke out against , they voted for independence. Ukraine unleashed a bloody war in the Donbas, where 13 thousand civilians were killed. Type in the search for the Madonna of Donbass , just don 't fall into a stupor Zelenskiy defeated Poroshenko in the 2018 elections with 75% support from Ukrainians, promising to restore peace in the Donbas by any means and restore good relations with Russia, his main economic partner. At the time of the election, more than 50% of Ukrainians were in favor of restoring good relations with Russia. In many cities of Ukraine, Ukrainians supported the Russian team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. And now, after 3 months, the policy of Zelensky, who has been on visits to many Western countries, is changing dramatically. And everyone's favorite humorist Zelensky gradually turns into Porosheko over the course of the year. Why ? Because both Poroshenko and Zelensky are most worried about their offshore accounts and are afraid of nationalists. Zelensky officially bans the Russian language throughout Ukraine, and control and penal services have been created that allow fines, including ordinary sellers and doctors who speak Russian. With the consent of the ambassadors of Western countries, he closed 3 TV channels that traditionally promote peace and restore relations with Russia. And now Zelensky has brought disaster to the whole of Ukraine. For 8 years now, Russia has been demanding the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which provided for the return of Donbass to Ukarina on the terms of amending the constitution with the federal status of Donbass and the possibility of electing a government, police and preserving the original Russian language. schools and the opportunity to communicate in Russian everywhere. In 2014, the Ukrainian army killed 13,000 civilians in the Donbass, but in the end suffered a complete defeat. Russia in 2104 could easily conquer Ukraine in a matter of days, but did not. It was Russia that forced the leaders of Donbass (I repeat the leaders of Donbass, not Ukraine) to sit down with Poroshenko and sign the Minsk agreements, which many in Russia considered treacherous. Even then, Donbass demanded that Russia recognize its independence. But Russia then did not take this step and gave Ukarina a chance. For eight years, Poroshenko and Zelensky shied away from implementing the Minsk agreements. And already this year, Zelensky and members of his government openly admitted that they were not going to fulfill these agreements. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine on open air called Donbass a cancerous tumor on the body of Ukraine. In January, under pressure from the United States and Britain, Zelensky escalated and moved troops to the line of demarcation with Donbass, as well as multiple launch rocket systems and large-caliber artillery (which is expressly prohibited by the Minsk agreements). Russia also pulled its troops to the Ukrainian border. Biden, Boris, and the Western media raised the cry for a Russian invasion precisely on the basis of what had been scripted ahead of time for Zelensky. Zelensky had to initiate an escalation of the conflict, at first he avoided it, then he was forced and the Ukrainian army began intensive shelling of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics. Residents of Donbass found themselves again in 2014, when there were numerous casualties among the civilian population. It was the Ukrainian army, stuffed with Western weapons and instigated by the West, that unleashed the conflict. Of course, Russia was forced to react. And Russia responded. From the very beginning, the United States and Great Britain aspired to this scenario in order to accuse Russia of aggression and the imposition of sanctions. At the same time, what will happen to Ukraine does not concern them. The enemy has taken place, now Biden and Boris will unite their countries within and unite the collective West and tear Europe away from Russia.

[@dojocho1894]

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

[@tashalorm4313]

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

[@FM-ze3iz]

RIP prof Cohen. May you find peace and rest in the after life.

[@MrCSRT8]

Absolutely. I have a feeling he will.

[@Xallarxo]

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.

[@saelind73]

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.

[@Xallarxo]

@@saelind73 thanks for the advice, I’ve just started his latest book “war with Russia”.

[@munguci12]

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

[@hanhchu6233]

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

[@MsCatwoman13]

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

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

Yeah. Me too. So he would see how stupid and intellectually corrupt he was creating apologies for a man who send army to rob, murder and rape civilians.

[@electrasong9954]

But then, the west wouldn't get what it wants, which is a war with Russia, that will put Russia out of the picture forever and hand its assets over to 'them'.. They can turn it into an annexed state of the European Union. Another lagoon in Disney World.

[@paladro]

he's just an opinion

[@gavinjanavarderic18]

This is not opinion this is the true facts. Usa tried to image russia as enemy long time ago from 1947 onwards...

[@MariaMaltseva]

@@paladro His is an informed opinion, unlike most. And that matters.

[@cheri238]

That made us think. You are dearly missed ❤️

[@elenaw7998]

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

[@salvadorvizcarra769]

If the US really wanted to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, the US would dissolve NATO forever. In 1991, when the USSR collapsed, the Russians dissolved the Warsaw Pact. However, NATO was not dissolved. It was the opposite. NATO grew in power, in territorial extension and in the number of allied countries. In this war Mr. Putin is DEFENDING his homeland. Mr. Putin is fighting today against only ONE Country (Ukraine), cuz if he doesn't fight Ukraine today, then tomorrow he will have to fight against 30 countries that make up NATO. Just in case we all forgot. Mr. Zelensky was a television Comedian, who won the Presidency of Ukraine thanks to Mr. Petro Poroshenko (this one of great academic and political merit), was ridiculed for the Parodies that Mr. Zelensky made on TV. And why didn't Mr. Poroshenko stop these taunts and slanders against him? Answer: Cuz Mr. Poroshenko did not want to "Affect" the Freedom of Expression in Ukraine. Well... Already as President, Mr. Zelensky dazzled by the proposals of the International Monetary Fund, in which he would be filled with money if he agreed to join NATO, it was easy for him to challenge the power of Russia. Today Mr. Zelensky is ALONE and friendless. Mr. Zelensky faces Mr. Putin in absolute solitude. What does Mr. Putin want? Answer: Russia cannot allow a NATO Military Base on its immediate border. What does the United States want? Answer: The US has almost 800 Military Bases spread all over the world, and they need another 800 more Bases, to subsume Russia. That is what the US wants: Subsume Russia. But... BUT, the US will not enter a war to defend Mr. Zelensky, cuz China would side with Russia. End of history and possibly end of the United States. Governing a country is serious business. A country cannot be Governed by a TV Comedian. Finally, for the US the issue of its National Security is something non-negotiable. (The Pentagon is PARANOID on this point). However, this same Right to Defend Itself, US is denied to Russia and it is also denied to all the countries of the world. No one in the world can pose a threat to the US, but in reality, the US is a real threat to everyone.

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

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

[@nt3291]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 why being so angry

[@pzubets]

@@nt3291 he is a troll himself, don't mind

[@oceanwave4502]

Democratic model indeed exhausts politicians. What they want the most is to win the very next election, nothing else. Make vague promises to win at all cost. As a result, western politicians usually lack long-term vision and planning as well as big-picture view. Zelenskyy is a case in point.

[@Frannie12]

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

[@Joaocruz30]

sad. so sad that you´re so right!

[@idxtrader7479]

The US did listen. That's why Biden Administration is exactly doing it to start the war.

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

BS and Bollocks!

[@innocentiuslacrim2290]

And he was wrong. Russia should have been pushed out of Ukraine 8 years ago, instead of letting them stsy there and let them think they can get away with their current invasion.

[@kamikaziking]

@@innocentiuslacrim2290 so what did you want to do with the 9 million russians that lived there? cleanse them like the ukrainians wanted???

[@appleneworleans4018]

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

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

Completely. Wrong then, wrong now.

[@siyakamomoh5947]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 and Ukraine are paying the price today.

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

@@siyakamomoh5947 Yes, and we should be ashamed of our cowardly accommodating appeasement towards Putin and Putin's Russia. But no worry, if we keep doing this listening to people like Cohen soon we will be paying the same price too.

[@giselameunier3845]

@@siyakamomoh5947 Ukrainien people , that s diffrent

[@elektrotehnik94]

This "professor" was half blind about Ukraine back then & his thinking is still mostly wrong to this day. 30% neo-fascists on Ukraine elections? Laughable --> get to know the details & realise it was an extreme nationalistic movement. They were extreme in their zealousness, but given the history of Russians in Ukraine (Holodomor, Soviet repression), the fears that fueled their zealousness proved to be VERY real (Bucha, Mariupol). ^^ Not to mention such movements got only 2% vote in the last elections (which happened a long time after this interview).

[@friedrichnietzsche5627]

Truthly words about NATO and US&EU Politic to Russia, MR. Strphen F. Cohen!!! Bravo!

[@Noone95noxchi]

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

[@solidsnake0408]

Way to late !

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

Nope. Waste of time.

[@nosuchthing8]

He is a JOKE

[@renomontenegro7862]

You should have share it in 2015! For 2022 share the images of carnage that Putin has done in Ukraine!

[@joannajones8533]

and Prof. John Mearsheimer......good analysis by both!!

[@MrVaticanRag]

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

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

Which ones? Like those of Munich 1938 maybe?

[@frankgarofalo2653]

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.

[@SJ-ds8lp]

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.

[@frankgarofalo2653]

@@SJ-ds8lp Tulsi Gabbard The Grey Zone

[@censura1210]

it's not that your "leaders" don't see. They don't want to see and they are installed there to not see, but to brainwash the public with bullshit while they invest heavily to advance the criminal globalist agenda.

[@afrosrb7828]

Honestly the leaders KNEW EXACTLY what they were doing, it was all planned, first and foremost by the U.S.

[@johngrant5793]

You said it.

[@loverov1561]

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

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

What for!? Who would?! Do trolls need excuses for their works?! Decent people can see the reality unfolding now.

[@loverov1561]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 Sorry, bur I am a human being. I merely wanted to express my appreciation so that many share this video. Good Lück, Troll Hunter!

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

@@loverov1561 Yes, a lot of us would like to live in peace. Unfortunately there is enough of people who do not share this view. The non-violence only works with restrained aggressors, otherwise you have a choice of fighting back or dying (or worse). Cohen and others like him in effect justified inaction in the face of a growing threat. I am tired of their apologists, even if they are not trolls.

[@loverov1561]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 I agree. Seems I got it wrong, since it is not my mother tongue. I only know, that he had lot´s of empathy for the Russians, which I appreciated. But I am all for Russians and Putin´s choice. I feel the same, Nato forced him into it, on purpose. And I feel, Russians behaved very decent, unfortunately, our media a delivering a completely different story. No idea, why they are behaving like American agents. Austrian journalists should be at least neutral.....

[@pahatpahat9566]

Gone are the days you had Kissingers now you have Nuland? I thought she is Oldland!

[@lunaticairi3047]

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

[@cynnamon605]

Wish everyone could hear this.

[@kevinjohnson9533]

EVERYTHING Cohen said has become a reality.

[@nahumhabte6210]

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

[@rak2332]

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

[@melinamunkkirkegaard9949]

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

[@raymeester7883]

He tried. He really tried.

[@claudiateve9559]

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

[@wally1452]

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.

[@socionomic]

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

[@africkinamerican]

And Vladimir Pozner, "How the United States created Vladimir Putin"

[@salvadorvizcarra769]

@@africkinamerican If the US really wanted to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, the US would dissolve NATO forever. In 1991, when the USSR collapsed, the Russians dissolved the Warsaw Pact. However, NATO was not dissolved. It was the opposite. NATO grew in power, in territorial extension and in the number of allied countries. In this war Mr. Putin is DEFENDING his homeland. Mr. Putin is fighting today against only ONE Country (Ukraine), cuz if he doesn't fight Ukraine today, then tomorrow he will have to fight against 30 countries that make up NATO. Just in case we all forgot. Mr. Zelensky was a television Comedian, who won the Presidency of Ukraine thanks to Mr. Petro Poroshenko (this one of great academic and political merit), was ridiculed for the Parodies that Mr. Zelensky made on TV. And why didn't Mr. Poroshenko stop these taunts and slanders against him? Answer: Cuz Mr. Poroshenko did not want to "Affect" the Freedom of Expression in Ukraine. Well... Already as President, Mr. Zelensky dazzled by the proposals of the International Monetary Fund, in which he would be filled with money if he agreed to join NATO, it was easy for him to challenge the power of Russia. Today Mr. Zelensky is ALONE and friendless. Mr. Zelensky faces Mr. Putin in absolute solitude. What does Mr. Putin want? Answer: Russia cannot allow a NATO Military Base on its immediate border. What does the United States want? Answer: The US has almost 800 Military Bases spread all over the world, and they need another 800 more Bases, to subsume Russia. That is what the US wants: Subsume Russia. But... BUT, the US will not enter a war to defend Mr. Zelensky, cuz China would side with Russia. End of history and possibly end of the United States. Governing a country is serious business. A country cannot be Governed by a TV Comedian. Finally, for the US the issue of its National Security is something non-negotiable. (The Pentagon is PARANOID on this point). However, this same Right to Defend Itself, US is denied to Russia and it is also denied to all the countries of the world. No one in the world can pose a threat to the US, but in reality, the US is a real threat to everyone.

[@cookwithcel1455]

another good thing to take a look at is ukraine on fire. It got removed on YT. Be careful cause there is some waterdown version on netflix i think thats not the correct thing. Take a good, very interesting documentary

[@69birdboy]

Russia was steeped in blood well before the United states

[@suetempleton9135]

@@africkinamerican 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. :)

[@duncankowable]

They should play this video over CNN, Fox news, MSNBC

[@SJ-ds8lp]

It makes them look stupid.

[@cheri238]

Coorperate Media? They are the problem.

[@noone5461]

It doesn’t support their narrative propaganda, actually they have started to censor people who speaks against propaganda, so there is no freedom of speech anyone

[@Time4Peace]

Why are 2 comments missing?

[@tashalorm4313]

He was on one CNN show (Wolf Blitzer) where he was going head to head with Ane Amanpour. When he started to answer Wolf Blitzer came to cut the show.

[@madar7000]

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

[@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!

[@SEKreiver]

Excellent and prescient analysis.

[@ExpandMyLife]

Mr. Cohen is correct he does need to be on mainstream TV. More folk need to hear his message. Thank you for uploading. Blessings from Ontario, Canada

[@boysiedent6149]

THERE ARE ENOUGH LIARS ON MAIN STREAM MEDIA...

[@ExpandMyLife]

I do not understand your comment

[@boysiedent6149]

Do you accept that (19 Muslims with Box Cutters) - were responsible for the events that took place on 11-September-2001 ? - If yes - then Prof Stephen Cohen is a collaborator after the fact) and a proven LIAR - since he ignores the fact and presents lies as truth..If you do not endorse Prof Cohen's lies - then there is still hope for you!

[@PeterElz]

yeah right, The largest nation on earth calls itself regional power without Ukraine. BS of course.

[@isabellajones8535]

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

[@sergeitsires6606]

Great analysis. Thank You Mr. Cohen.

[@calvinchung2036]

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

[@TheTamriel]

Muchas gracias, Commonwealth Club

[@glebmalyugin2588]

Stephen Cohen should have his own channel

[@manatee2500]

He's got his own dacha.

[@ExpandMyLife]

I have not been able to find Stephen Cohen's KZbin Channel. Please send me the link. Thank you

[@manatee2500]

Search under useful idiots.

[@nosuchthing8]

Good one Boris. Putin will send more vodka. dah? Next time learn more English before you post.

[@SvalbardSleeperDistrict]

@@manatee2500 "Search under useful idiots." This kind of empty ad-hominem, in reply to an entire lecture from the person in question, says more about the author of the ad-hominem than about the latter.

[@wally1452]

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.

[@manatee2500]

Sophia Shevardnadze has a program on Russia Today…hardly a neutral forum.

[@harryleimgruber1202]

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

[@arash4712]

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

[@paolamagana2505]

I really enjoy the lectures of this professor.

[@letsgetactical]

Stephen F. Cohen, prominent contemporary American scholar of Russia and USSR, friend of Gorbachev and adviser to Bush, Dies at 81

[@bob-ss4wx]

Stephen Cohen is absolutely right!!!

[@boysiedent6149]

About What? lying?

[@cg5648]

@@boysiedent6149 , this did not age well.

[@boysiedent6149]

@@cg5648 Hello - I think that maybe I totally missed what you tried to say - but no problem - I will simply - IGNORE IT - I do not enjoy discussion with anyone - who has nothing to say! OK

[@cg5648]

@@boysiedent6149, what was he lying about? Your remark is nonsense, where are the lies?

[@cg5648]

@@boysiedent6149, Also this disaster in Ukraine is the fault of the American government and as someone who served in the American military, I confidently say that, so what do you think about that?

[@JoscelinTrouwborst]

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.

[@yaroslavbabets1393]

one of the worst

[@e_x_c_u_b_i_t_o_r_ejiysb7169]

Agreed, When you keep labelling someone as an enemy, threat or someone to be destroyed. People innocent or not, gets influenced even more so in our digital age. At one time I was very Anti-Russian, but my outlook changed when I got wiser and the Syrian Crisis, showing how Russia effectively saved it from turning a libya 2.0. From there I closely followed the media relating to the conflict. And boy the west literally made almost every problem after the cold war.

[@monkeysezbegood]

@@e_x_c_u_b_i_t_o_r_ejiysb7169 I get this, there is a Russian view, but does Russia have the right chose the leadership of a neighboring county?

[@e_x_c_u_b_i_t_o_r_ejiysb7169]

@@monkeysezbegood Then by what right does the US have to arm Neo-Nazi Ukrainians and made the coup in 2013-2014 Ukraine to happen? By doing that their only further making it more likely that Russia will do the same. The only difference is that Russia wants to protect itself from extermination from its enemies (who wants to disect/loot Russia of its resources). Whereas the US wants to protect their already failing global hegemony of nonstop war profittering.

[@ANGEL-eh6pd]

Russiagate now. They need to make PEACE.

[@SanityIsland]

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.

[@africkinamerican]

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.

[@SanityIsland]

@@africkinamerican Indeed. Very well stated. All of this is to hose the competition. No one can compete with the conglomerates and they are controlled by the big bankers. It's all about the cash and control. Have you read Battle Hymn: Dane Phillips and John Scura? What a revealing look behind the scenes of this hysteria. Also love Cohen's book War with Russia. I'm so deeply glad that there is still some sanity and reasonable processing of information. Funny that makes you a bad person in an upside down world.

[@gbagira1]

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

[@tarhunta2111]

Finally, a voice of reason.

[@cheri238]

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

[@dubjedi3108]

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.

[@thebell313]

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.

[@ukrdevochka]

Great talk! Don't let ignorance stop you from spreading your great knowledge. Thank you for speaking out!

[@antontkachev4747]

Thank you Professor Stephen for your courage and honesty

[@freethought3448]

Kennan was right. Prof Cohen excellent lecture.

[@chriseworko3844]

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

[@donaldwatts9201]

It does not matter who leaked , at this point,it is the content of the information that matters.

[@AuditorInvestor]

I respect this Cohen for independent thinking and speaking plainly. Professor Mearsheimer has carried his mantle - the civilized world badly needs more like them.

[@ebb_]

Right! But people don’t want to listen. People love lies more than truth!

[@lordrobert12]

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

[@joro63]

I wish Professor Cohen was with us today. We need someone with clear thinking like he had.

[@JIMuser-vh3Zxx]

Makes no difference if he was still alive .. the political class I charge since bush days wants all things their way and only want their red lines matter ! With this mind set and drive even god will not be able to change things

[@Playthellgb42]

Professor Cohen is this nation's most objective and therefore most valuable thinker on Russia! The charge that his views are "not patriotic" is a compliment rather than the insult they intended. A scholar's views are only valuable to the public and, more importantly, policy makers, if they are OBJECTIVE!!! Which is to say that he follows the FACTS wherever they lead!

[@geraldmrubin]

manatee2500 - You are a Hillary Clinton troll.

[@manatee2500]

I am able to think myself, actually. But that's a good reply to what I said about Cohen's twenty years as a CBS News analyst.

[@fullahel453]

manatee2500 Prof. Cohen has consistently called out the US foreign policy as being responsible for the continuation of Cold War hostilities between the two countries despite its terminus in 1991, citing NATO's eastern bloc expansion as evidence for his hypothesis (30+ years strong). Not certain where you’re are getting your info. One of many articles that u can locate online: www.chronicle.com/article/Is-This-Professor-Putin-s/241777

[@louisesargeant2665]

@@manatee2500 DR. COHEN. WAS A BALANCED EDUCATED. RARE MAN. . WE KNOW ONES IN GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA ARE INSANE AND HAVE NO MORALS.

[@louisesargeant2665]

@@manatee2500 a

[@TheEmmef]

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

[@michaelpetrovich5353]

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.

[@drmodestoesq]

One wonders what the cause of the anti-Russian sentiment is....It's totally a mystery.

[@lizziexbieberx44_]

@@drmodestoesq US paid $22 million for this war to be anti-russia

[@hanssvoboda]

@@drmodestoesq Exactly. Next these Russian apologists will claim that the CIA killed the residents of Bucha, or whatever other fantasy they can come up with.

[@nikolinam8211]

@@drmodestoesq MSM propaganda in the 1st place, which has been brainwashing people for many decades. 2nd, average American cannot even locate Russia anyhere on a map, let alone that the have an idea of what is really going on. Third, critical skills of most voters are pretty low, often so for discussing things related to their own country, let alone Russian affairs. Fourth, there are subconscious prejudices difficult or impossible to eradicate. Fifth, USA, Canada and Australia are harbours of former nazis, and their lobbysts are often millionaires, if not billionaires. Neonazism in Ukraine has been rampant and embraced by not just in politics but also folks in academia, culture, media etc. I can go on but you get an idea l hope.

[@drmodestoesq]

@@nikolinam8211 Great...that deals with everyone who doesn't share a border with Russia. Next question. After centuries of imperialism, butchery, enslavement, ethnic cleansing and mass murder by Russians....why do Russian stooges try to assert that hatred of Russians is not based on historical reality?

[@alireid5874]

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_Effex]

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..

[@echoskelet]

How did you hear anything huh ?

[@johnsmith-iq6lz]

This guy tells the truth

[@mohmrh2790]

RIP Stephen and may god bless your soul

[@Dredger46]

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

[@user-nv2bn2ix3u]

A really brilliant and extremely knowledgeable man. I've been researching the Ukraine conflict for years and I've learned a whole lot from this video alone.

[@TheRantingRooster]

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

[@solid1378]

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

[@joannajones8533]

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

[@ubergeraldine]

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

[@svetlana7904]

Also Noam Chomsky... it is just amazing how they could predict what is going today... take care my friend

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

@@svetlana7904 Noam Chomsky: good linguist, logician, mathematician. I wish he limited himself to these.

[@pratyushojha]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 i wish you would listen and learn. you might stop being so angry all the time.

[@pratyushojha]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 i wish you would listen and learn. you might stop being so angry all the time.

[@olgaker6486]

@@pratyushojha 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.

[@imrematajz1624]

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

[@tellyhow6281]

True. He is missed especially now.

[@akadee2986]

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

[@pratyushojha]

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

[@renato1820]

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

[@andriodcellphone7156]

I can listen to him forever..

[@piotrkraczkowski6729]

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

[@jslontherun]

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.

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

"There are always 2 sides of the story" NOT always. Very often, there is just one side, the one which is true. The only thing is, sometimes we do not have full information, so we are trying to form opinions. The cowardly media frequently exacerbate the problem by "giving equivalent voice to two sides". This sounds good on its face, but they were giving the equal time to the cigarette defenders even when the mountain of the evidence (and just the common sense experience) was Himalaya-high. Until recently the same was with the climate-change deniers, mostly because large portion of the public is science-illiterate.

[@mikeoglen6848]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 Are you suggesting that there is only one side to the current situation in Ukraine?

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

@@mikeoglen6848 Ultimately there is only one set of FACTS. Not all of them may be known at any given moment but we are not talking about black holes or quantum mechanics, there is this thing called REALITY. The there are OPINIONS. For a moderately educated and willing human being usually it is possible to distinguish between the two. There are also LIES and they can be falsified. In other words there is truth and not truth. So they may be 2 sides ... I am not interested in propaganda and this is what is coming from Russia as far as I can remember (that would be late 60s). "There are many sides of the story" usually starts a false equivalency ...

[@mikeoglen6848]

@@bogdanbaudis4099 OK Bogdan, will you tell me which Organization you reprresent?

[@bogdanbaudis4099]

@@mikeoglen6848 I am what I am.

[@athenakoios2418]

What a wonderful conversation. Thank you

[@elenasakha9015]

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

[@hackbrettschorsch6855]

He has always been a huge voice for Russia and its imperialistic ambitions.

[@annibanner]

Not allowed to share this on twitter or facebook! What happened to free speech.

[@Dnskk1989]

Are you serious? That is really really bad. I will share this with every single person I know personally, and will ask to the same. That is some really evil censorship

[@annibanner]

Block has been removed now, so have managed to share.

[@bombomu2]

all EU and Nato politicians and citizens should watch on prof. cohen speech this day.

[@chrisbowers8329]

I agree wholeheartedly Loane. Have always been extremely impressed with and appreciative of Cohen's carefully & thoughtfully considered contribution. We in the US have gone a bit off the deep end when it comes to this deeply embedded belief in exceptionalism and superiority, and have been extremely rude to much of the rest of the world in the process. It amazes me how patient Russia has been with us, waiting for us to come around to a more sober understanding of the world we live in today. I have to conclude that what we are experiencing here in the US is a perennial phenomenon that comes with the end of all empires throughout history, the mission creep of over-extending resources and the big one, seemingly blind hubris.

[@GeorgiStojanov]

Brilliant scholar. RIP Prof Cohen. Watch if you want to understand today's geopolitical situation. The whole situation.

[@_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.

[@RubberstampkingCoUk]

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

[@62garden]

At last someone that tells it like it is! 👏

[@sashaa4412]

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.

[@ca-jf3ey]

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

[@gastonmodestkaziri2566]

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"!

[@profe3330]

Such a great man. We definitely need him now.

[@stephanelaub9785]

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

[@ThyCyclone]

This aged well

[@acousticmotorbike2118]

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

[@molliestanton2869]

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.

[@ninopavkovic9382]

Check out Scott Ritter

[@MrNorthCat]

Great talk! Thank you!

[@sjr7822]

I just discovered John Batchelor Show on which Cohen has a guest spot- I just was drawn to this man's thinking, probably because I had made up my mind about Russia during the Ukraine crises. Seeing the US has ruin every country we have gone into- I'm on Russia's side, especially where Russia and Ukraine has a history, on that side of the world.

[@mave2207]

+S Robin I also occasionally follow Cohen in this show and others. He is always fascinating. One of the very few voices of reason left in the USA. I feel personally grateful for Prof. Cohen efforts because I fear the United States elites are going to plunge the whole world in war, which will probably be the more catastrophic ever by orders of magnitude.

[@ctcole77]

+mave2207 Are you happy that Adolf Putin is the richest man in world? $200 BILLION......all stolen from the Russian people.

[@maksymmuzychenko9644]

Continue please Irak, Syria, Libya, Vietnam, Slovakia, Japan ( nucleus bombs and burned Tokio) and others.....

[@caroljoy839]

Vietnam, which we destroyed in order to save it, and then we didn't save it. Same in Iraq. Look at what we are doing in Syria. (though Trump just pissed off the Deep State by seeing there will be no more monies for the "rebels" in Syria.)

[@olegm.3369]

About 2 million refugees, 20 thousand killed Ukrainians, annexed territories of Ukraine - do you support all this? Many treaties on friendship and borders that Ukraine and Russia signed, and which were violated by Russia - do you all support this? Russian propagandists talk about "red lines" all the time. No one has violated any "red lines". Ukraine was a neutral state and there was no chance of joining NATO.

[@AkbarMaxx]

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

[@andresrtorres6895]

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

[@annjoyce579]

Informative! Both views should be heard. I'm learning from both views.

[@jodyjustice188]

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?

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

Why in f%^k's sake we didn't listen to this buy, and Mearsheimer, eight years ago is beyond me.

[@DintlP]

Such depth on his knowledge . Hope people hear him before we see this after 6 years !

[@josephvahidi1448]

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