The New Yorker’s David Remnick: Is Putinism Doomed? | Amanpour and Company

As a young KGB officer, Vladimir Putin took the collapse of the Soviet Union as a personal humiliation, and has repeatedly expressed his desire to redeem what he sees as lost glory. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and editor of The New Yorker David Remnick joins Walter Isaacson to discuss Putin’s past.
Originally aired on March 15, 2022.
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
#amanpourpbs

[@bp4187]

Isaacson is an excellent interviewer: very good questions to knowledgeable people and then he lets them answer without interruptions.

[@madyjules06]

EP, absolutely agree with you Isaacson is an amazing author as well (but you probably know that 😊)

[@garybezner6774]

Yes but why ask a self answerable question , ask why prominent Americans want to emulate Putin! These Americans want to destroy Democracy , WHY???

[@funnythat9956]

I always think when I hear educated, enlightened knowledgable people in the US talking, how can it come to a presidential contest between Trump and Biden? How can it come to an attempted mob coup in the US? How can a person like Trump get 50% or so of the votes in the US?

[@bp4187]

@@madyjules06 yes. I love his biographies.

[@straywhisker4063]

Amanpour and Company has amongst the best interviews covering this nightmare.

[@dominique___1980]

I agree. I'm looking at multiple sources from around the world. And I find I get more education from these interviews than anywhere else.

[@danijelsan81]

100%

[@susanfritzel4055]

And they have increased their output on this channel. Grateful

[@SOZO_xo]

💯💯💯

[@noreenneary140]

@@dominique___1980 111

[@nycatlady2314]

Always great reporting by Walter and Amanpour & Co. thanks

[@josephhoggang7139]

What Putin should ask himself is, why do the former members of the USSR strongly desire to separate from Russia?

[@BeegirlsHoneyHouse]

It appears he’s been beyond any ability to rationally reflect for more than 2 decades; his resolve has only grown stronger.

[@naftalibendavid]

Remnick was the perfect person to ask. Smart, informed, and articulate. Great interview!

[@lyndaweister9984]

EXACTLY 💯 % TRUE CORRECT Very Informative!! Thank U! 🤗❣

[@Matt-pt6rl]

Sad that you would be so easily impressed, try consulting historical scholars for information and not propagandists . I have a HS education but can smell a rat in short order. I’m distressed to think learned people with more education than myself not actually fall for this complete BS but praise it.

[@naftalibendavid]

@@Matt-pt6rl I’m open to reading anything you are willing to recommend. I have no relevant expertise and I would love to learn more.

[@Matt-pt6rl]

@@naftalibendavid I found John Mearsheimer , who predicted this conflict many years ago, to be a most knowledgeable source of information. He’s fair and not partisan in his theories. Many Americans wail when children are murdered by a mentally ill person but have no issue with their elected officials sending endless weaponry for killing in Ukraine , all the while ignoring the mental health crisis at home. Not one dime should have gone to Ukraine before the taxpayers of the United States had a myriad of issues at home addressed. Is Putin the villain here? Not likely but he certainly is intelligent and will likely meet his own goals in Ukraine. We will be told fairytales and he will settle things to his satisfaction.

[@naftalibendavid]

@@Matt-pt6rl i will check it out. Thanks.

[@shellibelli4387]

I like the way the hosts of these shows don’t interrupt every 30 seconds like hosts on other channels do.

[@lyndaweister9984]

YES! 👍🏽🙏💙

[@ronaldronald8819]

Thank you so much for interviewing David Remnick. Again someone with deep insight into Putins Russia.

[@alisonburgess345]

Thanks - this is a very difficult issue for these journalists to cover. Appreciate the efforts of everyone here. Terrific interview again...

[@MultiShinypants]

Terrific interview, thanks very much, Mr. Remnick.

[@onthebeachinsitges]

Sounds just like Hitler. Humiliation. The rise of a nobody. Hatred. Violence. Beaten. Humiliated. More violence.

[@parrisprice5892]

Very similar. I imagine when your a malignant narcissist/ sociopath with aspirations of grandeur, being a murderous dictator is the next move

[@Gminor7]

A Malignant narcissistic, megalomaniacal, sociopathic nobody - Trump exactly.

[@AvsFan32]

David Remnick, what a treat.

[@62Cristoforo]

This is one of the clearest and best analysis I’ve seen in weeks

[@alisonburgess345]

I agree.

[@pbohearn]

Not really very skilled and one-sided with errors of omission and commission

[@nrs6956]

Fortunately experience Remnick on NPR always knowledgeable and insightful!. Appreciate info from Amanpour and Company. Thank you.

[@KCYT2010]

Thank you for the this tremendous insight. Great interview Mr. Remnick.

[@joelmccoy9969]

David Remnick always gets these great interviews, then he doesn't interfere with what they have to say. Thank you!

[@joelmccoy9969]

OOps

[@marilynhoward380]

Enlightening conversation with a very knowledgeable guest.

[@pattirockgarden4423]

Agree, Ukraine people have pulled off a miracle, no matter what! New Yorker is doing a great job of covering this war.

[@carolyntalbot947]

I've only been subscribed for a few months and it's already been an excellent investment.

[@nycatlady2314]

@@electrocyde he wasn’t ignored. He was impeached for trying to withhold arms congress had already approved from Ukraine who wouldn’t make a fake announcement about investigating Biden. We stood for Ukraine then and are on their side now.

[@carolyntalbot947]

@@electrocyde Donald Trump had never uttered the word "Ukraine" and couldn't find it on a map before he was made aware of the country by his idol, Vladimir Putin. Putin's obsession was with undermining Ukraine's government and absorbing it like the other puppet states in Eastern Europe that otherwise might threaten to influence and disrupt his control of Russian citizens. For all of Trump's "Deep State" accusations against Democrats, he is the one who used his personal lawyer and hired thugs to dictate American foreign policy and sabotage Ukraine's defensive efforts against Russia. They smeared and fired state department officials who weren't amenable to these efforts and replaced them with Trump toadies, as testimony during the House impeachment hearings verified. Trump refused to demonstrate US alliance with Ukraine despite Zelensky's pleading for a public meeting, and in a truly extraordinary abuse of power he extorted the vulnerable new Ukrainian president--in an effort to fabricate a smear campaign against Joe Biden, who had just announced his candidacy. Trump didn't even suggest that they investigate Biden (as some media outlets still report) his demand was for Zelensky to appear on CNN and _say_ that Biden was the target of a criminal probe. It was a sloppy repeat of "Lock Her Up," a false narrative that achieved 2 goals: destroy his opponent Hillary Clinton's campaign and compound distrust in the US government (a long-held tradition among Republican politicians who sabotage the government and advocate for privatizing everything from the Dept. Of Education to the Post Office.) Trump witheld Congressionally allocated weapons approved for Ukraine's defense against Russian separatists and only released the desperately needed aid after whistleblower LTC Vindman reported his "perfect phone call" to the IG and then Congress. Trump's claims that his administration sent javelins while Obama sent blankets is taking credit for something he actively used _against_ Ukraine and otherwise had nothing to do with. It doesn't even make sense for him to pretend he wanted to send Ukraine aid of his own volition--he has said himself that we're "suckers" for funding anything outside the US and that he doesn't see why we should remain in NATO. His understanding of foreign policy or even basic history is at about a sixth-grade level. Whether Trump fully understood the implications of his actions or just continued to follow the Kremlin's suggestions to satisfy his end of their implied transaction, we can't be sure. The bottom line is that he was obviously grateful for Putin's election interference on his behalf and gave many otherwise inexplicable attempted foreign policy gifts to Russia, some of which his office alone did not have the power to grant. He tried to make good on Flynn's promise to Kislak by lifting Obama-era sanctions, to officially recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, to disband NATO, and re-admit Russia into the G7 (at his own Doral golf course on the taxpayers' dime) failing on all fronts. He did manage to deny Russian interference and side with Putin on the world stage in Helsinki, pull 1K peacekeeping troops out of Syria (abandoning our Kurdish allies to slaughter as a favor to Erdogan _and_ Putin) and he alienated the US from Western allies while demonstrating allegiance to Putin and authoritarian leaders of hostile foreign governments (Erdogan, Bolsinaro, MbS, Kim Jong IL, etc.) He gave all of them valuable propaganda to use against the US in their own state media coverage, and even now he continues to create sound bytes used on Russian state television denying any wrongdoing in Ukraine. These are just the examples I can recall from memory, there are mote and they've been the topic of scrutiny and speculation among foreign policy experts and scholars for years--especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden on the other hand, during his time as Vice President, worked with Ukraine to expel the corrupt government officials who prevented Ukraine from meeting NATO membership criteria and becoming an established democracy (which benefits the United States' national security, economy, and trade relations.) His wayward son Hunter abused his relationship as the VP's son to attain a lucrative position with Burisma, but despite obvious nepotism/conflict of interest concerns subsequent investigations have not shown that his affiliation with VP Biden benefitted Burisma improperly or otherwise. If your position is that the families of elected officials should not get special employment opportunities, I'm with you on that. The thing is though, you'd better say the same thing about Don Jr, Ivanka, Eric, etc. Especially when their salaries are paid by taxpayers and they have no requisite qualifications. Conservative media ran a fake story that VP Biden withheld $1B in aid to Ukraine to stop a corruption investigation (ostensibly for his son's benefit) but this has been proven false by the AP, Reuters, and other credible _real_ news outlets. It's true that Joe Biden leveraged $1 billion in aid to persuade Ukraine to oust its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, in March 2016. But it wasn't because Shokin was investigating Burisma. He was not investigating anything or anyone--it was because Shokin _wasn't_ pursuing corruption among any of the country's politicians. By making this demand, Biden prompted Ukraine to oust criminal officials and reject the democracy-in-name-only style of governance common to Russia and authoritarian nations. You know who didn't like this turn of events? Vladimir Putin, who wanted to influence and control Ukraine as he does Georgia and Belarus. Corruption in Ukraine is crucial to his stated goal of dominion over all former Soviet territories--something he has stated many times, and as recently as his speech just prior to invading Ukraine. If your position is that Trump wanted to clean up corruption in Ukraine just because he claimed to, your sh*t is weak. There was a time when you could pretend to believe every word he says, but whatever plausible deniability you had in 2016 is long gone. Choosing to go along with his feigned patriotism and "drain the swamp" crusade against government corruption at this point means you're a lot worse than just gullible--you are deliberately on the wrong side of history and waited too long to redeem yourself. In colloquial terms, you are a traitor to the United States whose only real allegiance is to bigotry.

[@justanotherhuman4615]

Let’s see that laptop … or hard drive then

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@justanotherhuman4615 Rudy was the last person who had his hands on it, if it existed at all.

[@LiLiJo]

What a clear and concise statement regarding our reality. Great reporting!

[@mk1st]

It is truly tragic that Russia’s actions hinge on one man’s personality and grievances This situation has surely distilled down the big question of our time: democracy or authoritarianism.

[@NotShowingOff]

Explain to me when they were ever democratic? These nation states don’t operate the way the USA assumes they should. Particularly old world nation states. They have a past, and a geography that makes certain types of govt easier. Democracy for instance is very difficult, because ppl in general aren’t surveying how other ppl feel that aren’t in their circles. For example ppl in Russia who live in Moscow think very differently than those in Chechnya and those in Siberia.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

@@NotShowingOff Democracy over authoritarianism who wants to live in a country when the right to protest is considered a criminal offence and the media is controlled by the regime.

[@dougmartin7129]

Whizzy 4567 the tRump administration got very close to that. Some red states actually passed laws to stop protests. Florida or Texas, I can’t remember, passed a law that says if you run over a protester with your car you’re not liable.

[@nikolayanisimtsev9034]

The last most democratically elected leader of Europe was Adolf Hitler. He got power due to the victory of his party (NSDAP) at the parliament elections in march 1933. They have got 43.91% of votes , 288 totally (social democrats only about 17% ). But why democracies so much enjoy to start agressive wars? Look for comparison, how many wars have started USA last years (Yugoslavia, Iraq, Liviya, Siriya, Afganistan, and now Ukraine). Is military agression the essence of democracy? Thanks Got, Putin is supported in Russia only by 70% of electorate.

[@Hummmminify]

@@dougmartin7129 You got that right. I was going to comment something I've you did and I may yet to further solidify your comment.

[@beerbread]

Nice to see David Remnick. I listen to the New Yorker podcast on NPR every week.

[@jiyushugi1085]

Wow! Such an intelligent man. Why is America unable to put people like David Remnick in positions of greater influence?

[@scorpio-girl687]

Because governments don't want smart people who "DON'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS IN THE SAND BOX". They want like-minded, greedy, play dirty types who will go along with the group think that they want. That's why independent, brilliant men & women don't want the job. Sad to say.

[@m.entera3196]

He's the editor of the New Yorker. I'd say that's a pretty important position and doesn't rely on having to deal with fund raising and catering to donors.

[@devirama1]

At least half of Americans like dumb, blustering demagogues more than they like bright, articulate folks. That's why we aren't getting the best brains as leaders.

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Sadly, a country that elects George W. Bush, TWICE ! and then proceeds to vomit all over itself and the world by electing an orange abomination, has alot of work to do to allow brains to represent them.

[@lisbethbird8268]

David thank you. You're straight up .

[@edmunddonnelly3881]

Great interview! I highly recommend Remnick's collection of essays called 'Reporting'.

[@smillner771]

I am extremely grateful to have access to such insightful, measured analysis.

[@susanfritzel4055]

I appreciate how Mr Remnick points out the miracle that the Ukrainian forces have produced because it feels as though this past few weeks of resistance has taken on a mythical quality of legend that will continue to grow.

[@honestbajan6877]

Really? Very naive of him, I think. There are no miracles in a hot War. Either, Ukrainians are getting massive help, or the mainstream media is concocting a narrative. I think that it's a combination of both.

[@sagapoetic8990]

The Ukrainians are getting a great deal of help from the West. There is no way they could achieve what they had without us,

[@toosiyabrandt8676]

Hi It is having a huge effect on many Individual Russian troops, who are shamed by them, and desert or surrender because of the Ukrainian soldiers’ incredible bravery and courage! Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua

[@lesliesanger4255]

It is such struggle to watch Ukrainians suffer for the ego of one man.

[@SnoopyDoofie]

One man? Watch more videos of Russians being interviewed. Many Russian civilians support Putin.

[@lesliesanger4255]

@@SnoopyDoofie yes, one man, it is a dictatorship. I guess his supporters could care less about suffering, death and destruction as well; or they are just ignorant and buy into the propaganda.

[@marydonohoe8200]

It’s criminal, and that man must go.

[@warthog473]

@@SnoopyDoofie Like here in the U.S. with Trump, most supporters are older, or younger people with less education and knowledge of the world. They are buying into the lie that "I'm the only one who can fix it and we'll get back our former glory." The parallels between Trump and Putin are astounding. The only difference is that Trump can't snap his fingers and order someone killed or disappeared.....yet.

[@susanwilliams6710]

It’s a relief to hear Remnick, who is so knowing and authoritative. But God help us all with Putinism and its American minions.

[@rhondacutler6712]

Extraordinary interview. Best analysis of the Russian invasion to date.

[@igaluitchannel6644]

PFFF. What's happened to education? The Amanpour program always has the same take on issues. In other words, it's just another extension of the propagandist media masquerading as "scholarly".

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@igaluitchannel6644 This interview was about historical contexts. You would know this if you paid attention while watching it. I’m surprised you’re not interested in history, given your interest in the ancient technology of film stocks.

[@igaluitchannel6644]

@@MarcosElMalo2 He does not go back very far into this area's history, religious and political, nor does go into much detail about the two Ukaraines - one which looks to the East and the other which looks to the West. He does not talk about the Western Ukrainian collaboration with the Nazis during the war (including death camps) and the surviving legacy of this in the major Ukrainian parties of today. He does not go into the biological labs put there by the West, nor does he address how George Soros and the West financed the Orange Revolution. Nor again, how the West is giving Ukraine very sophisticated weaponry and probably intelligence and satellite data, which is simply perpetuating a humanitarian crisis. It's an interesting talk, but limited. If he were to address the issues I mentioned, he would not be allowed on Amanpour or would be heavily edited.

[@RowerRob76]

OMG what insights!!!!! This feels like a crash-course in modern history of eastern Europe.

[@stefanfrembgen637]

Watching “Winter of Fire”, the documentary about the Maidan revolution, has given me an understanding and appreciation for the determination of the Ukrainian people to defend their recently gained democratic freedom against overwhelming odds.

[@alicemchugh4241]

I appreciate the historical background of Russia /SU, the country and Putin's biography, that David Remnick outlines. It's worth an entire show educating the US citizens on Russian history, it's leaders and government philosophies over time.

[@Solbm27]

it's worth an entire one-month seminar educating US, European, AND (especially) Russian citizens, I'd say.

[@haraldkoch4446]

I remember suffering through Hedrick Smith's The Russians 30 years ago. The reviews were spectacular. The writer was sensitive. Bla bla bla. The book attempted to make Russia appear human. A very subtle form of bigotry. Russia always has been human it's this Marxist thing which should concern us.

[@sagapoetic8990]

@@haraldkoch4446 Russia has NEVER been Marxist. The Soviet Communists took a sliver of Marxism and exploited it. Soviet Communism is very different than Marxism. They cite Marx but what they created has zero to do with Marx and everything to do with a cover for grabbing resources and stealing from other countries. It's far worse than what you are thinking.

[@97henrik041]

From all that I have learned about Putinism and from observing the actions of what is referred to as the "Russian Army", I know one thing: it must be eradicated from Ukraine totally. Ukraine will not have peace until the last Russian, dead or alive, is thrown out of Ukraine after Ukraine regains ALL of its sovereign territory.

[@glenncheatham1320]

Great interview! Thank you.

[@gergemall]

God help these people. Thank you for your brilliant insights and reporting. ❤️💪🇺🇦☮️. Without a miracle we are talking about the worst possible outcome or the second worse outcome.

[@mariacarmelarizzo1736]

Great and enlightening speaker

[@dfhancock]

Brilliant. the best analysis we've yet seen...thank you so much...and oh the pain and sadness of lost opportunity.....

[@AmanpourandCompany]

Thanks for tuning in. We appreciate you.

[@patj5330]

Thank you for this terrific interview with David Remnick. Please continue to do more interviews like this to inform and enlighten.

[@AmanpourandCompany]

Thanks for tuning in. We appreciate you!

[@thestreamoflife1124]

The Ukrainians will go down in history as an example of bravery and a belief in their heritage and willing to die for their country

[@JohnHoffman65]

Gorbachev was definitely right.

[@Holdfast1812]

In the last few days, I've seen people from both the US and, surprisingly, Israel suggesting that Ukraine should just part off their territory to give to Putin in order to stop the war. To those people, I would ask, how much of the US (and this goes for any country, not just them) or Israel would these countries be prepared to part off and give away if it was them being attacked and their population shelled into oblivion. Strangely enough, when you put it in that context, their suggestions change dramatically.

[@carolyntalbot947]

💯🎯

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Florida? Yeah, I think I’d be cool with that. Why? Do you know someone who wants it? That said, I don’t think Ukraine should be forced to give up any territory to placate a murderous aggressor.

[@Holdfast1812]

@@MarcosElMalo2 Given their tech needs, I rather think they would be looking for California vice Florida - having Silicone Valley under their boot and an extra 34 million people would be far more likely than a geriatric Florida.

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Holdfast, missing the joke

[@Holdfast1812]

@@lorettanericcio-bohlman567 Likely - I'm not American. Want to explain?

[@MCJSA]

"Ukraine is not a country and Ukrainians are not a people." Where have I heard that kind of argument before? ... People talking about Palestine and Palestinians. Same hatred. Same denial. Same erasure.

[@sagapoetic8990]

Guess whose former KGB migrated to Israel? There is a section of Israeli intelligence that favour Russia over the US because of their connection to the USSR.

[@stevewise1656]

He's possibly the wealthiest man in the world and it would seem wealth is his primary motivation. Otherwise, he hasn't done anything to help change Russian life for the better. So, it's all about hubris and wealth. All this talk about reestablishing the former Soviet territory is what he's selling through propaganda.

[@carolyntalbot947]

I don't think anyone believes he wants dominion over Eastern Europe to benefit Russian people. He wants to avenge the Soviet Union, bring down Western democracies, and have statues erected and books written about his triumph and great leadership. And the money too, no doubt.

[@martinw245]

Interestingly, large natural gas fields have been discovered in Ukraine.

[@stevewise1656]

@@martinw245 No shit keyboard warrior? Thanks for the edification. Who's going to buy that from Russia? They can hardly sell their own natural gas. Putin said all Ukrainians are Russian, didn't hear him say anything like, "we want your natural gas and will annihilate you for it." Did I miss that part?

[@ahmudbrr4940]

@@martinw245 exactly! That way Russia can remain the main supplier of oil and gas in Europe and gain more influence in the Continent. Russians have said that Europe is America's puppet but what they really mean is, Europe should be Russian's puppet

[@martinw245]

@@stevewise1656 Why did you find it necessary to be insulting? 40% of German gas is from Russia. There are 16 nations dependant on Russian gas. That gas is still being supplied from Russia as we speak. The world needs gas. There is still a market for that gas now and there will be after this barbaric invasion has ended. "Did I miss that part" True motivating factors for barbaric invasions are rarely spoken. I didn't say gas was THE causal factor responsible. But it obviously could be ONE of them. Next time you reply to somebody, do so with politeness, manners and maturity. Otherwise people will see you as a dick.

[@amyfriedlander7850]

Another wonderful Walter Isaacson interview. Thank you both.

[@carolynbrown4112]

Listening to this commentary, Donald Trump is using the "Putin playbook." .. ...and he almost succeeded .. and might yet still!! 😨

[@alexwyler4570]

russia starved Ukraine intentionally in 1939. Even though Kyiv was a huge trading center 1000 years ago when Moscow was barely on the map, Russia seems to have that abusive big brother mentally, or controlling abusive ex. That relationship has been abusive towards Ukraine for a long time. I wish the journalist would explain why.

[@MrScrofulous]

Well put. Russia has always been ruled by psychopaths and behaves totally psychopathically.

[@alexburke1899]

Putin believes Alexander Dugan’s writings about Russia. It’s weird revisionist history that talks about how to bring Russia back to greatness using disinformation and fracturing the west to somehow reclaim Soviet territory. Check out “foundations of geopolitics” on Wikipedia. Putin’s basically following that plan exactly the past few years and it explains a bit of how he and Dugan see the world/think. Dugan is known as “Putin’s brain” and he’s basically a idiot Nazi sympathizing white nationalist that makes up his own versions of world history that Putin believes.

[@MrScrofulous]

@@alexburke1899 More remarkably, Russia is so much like the boy who cried wolf that it's bizarre that anyone believes a word they say. At least on the border stage, it's common place now to call them out and unveil their false-flag disinformation campaign. Tom Clancy predicted all this stuff in his novels.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Your date is incorrect if you’re referring to the Holodomor. That occurred in 1931-32.

[@roymaddocks3184]

@@MarcosElMalo2 it was a man-made famine designed by Stalin to kill Ukrainians

[@robertbrennan2268]

Slava Ukraini!

[@billsmith2212]

Thanks for the interview , but a special thanks to all the press on the ground who risk their lives to provide us with untainted information and truth .

[@grizzlednerd4521]

NATO precludes membership of countries with current territorial disputes until they are resolved non-militarily. So, Putin's support of Donbass separatists effectively blocked NATO even entertaining Ukraine's joining the alliance. This is the same strategy that Putin employed in Georgia and and continues to employ in Moldova (probably his next target). I can't imagine, pre-invasion or even now, NATO members voting to change that requirement. Part of me is annoyed that the "what if" discussions get any oxygen at all in week three of an invasion. The public have limited time and emotional energy, and alternative reality discussions seem like a waste of those in my opinion.

[@nycatlady2314]

Thanks for your explanation. That’s the one piece I was missing

[@emislive]

This is VERY important! Related is the recent incorrect reporting that by voicing this reality, Zelenskyy said he was giving up on future NATO membership as if there was some shift in Ukraine's position or concession.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@emislive conceding something you didn’t really want or didn’t think you were going to get seems like good negotiating. However, changing Ukraine’s constitution with some sort of pledge to never join NATO would be giving in too much to a tyrant.

[@BeegirlsHoneyHouse]

@@MarcosElMalo2 Exactly; entirely too much deference is being given to Putin and what he wants, prefers, expects, demands etc. He’s not running the sovereign and free world and it’s imperative that we stop letting him. He’s unworthy of one more 2nd chance.

[@josephtraficanti689]

@@emislive it's probably not that ZELENSKY gave up on NATO membership as much that he had been hoping earlier on that the attacks would not happen if membership was given to Ukraine. Now it's too late since the invasion can no longer be avoided. Still one thing remains to be seen. How many Ukrainians will lose their lives before the death and destruction comes to an end.

[@Madmen604]

Russia has not really broken politically from their Tzarist history, except now their Tzar is elected and has more lived experience. But Russia is still an autocracy,they can't seem to break from that ancient style of governance. It is a frame of mind, anachronistic.

[@cliffordnewell2445]

Brillant commentary. Great program.

[@tedbarrow9856]

Mikhail Gorbachev was the Best President Russia ever had he sort to open the Country up for the young talented people who want a peaceful and Democratic new Russia,And now Putin as turned the clock back 40 years ,what will happen to all his Billions and gold bars he as stashed away if some of the outer circle think he's gone to far and decide enough is enough and take him out.

[@AVweb]

Good source to interview. Christiane, you rock. Always have.

[@tinayang3845]

Power to the people, stick it to the man (Putin)

[@robertroot3790]

I always enjoy David Remnick's assessments. He's a real pro.

[@marysmyth8288]

Alison Borchers : yes I also endorse your viewpoint .👏 Mary Canada .🇨🇦

[@fitztastico]

This guy was a bureau chief when I was 4 years old? What demon do I need to sell my soul to so I can look as good as he does at whatever age he is now?

[@robotics4kids]

I think he looks totally exhausted. Those are huge black circles under his eyes. I am grateful for him and all the great journalists. Democracy is history, without free independent journalism.

[@giovanna722]

Just looked it up. The lighting has something to do with how young he looks, but he is 63! Looks nowhere near that.

[@valevisa8429]

@@giovanna722 63 ! Holy macaroni,he looks in his 40's.

[@marywallace4086]

Fitztasico, Certainly not dump or Putin!

[@williamtell5365]

This isn't 1870, and Ukraine doesn't have any obligation to give one single thing to Russia. That kind of territorial politics died generations ago.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

If it were only that simple.

[@williamtell5365]

@@MarcosElMalo2 You seem to be overthinking the situation. Russia can of course use military force to achieve its aims in the short-term, but it cannot achieve hegemony over Ukraine in the long-term that way. That is my point. Putin's thinking is rooted in a foundational strategy of the past, and Russia is suffering -- and will suffer in the future -- because of it.

[@davidcottrell1308]

Russia is a Pariah state for the foreseeable future...I feel sorry for them...putin screwed it for them.

[@katherinewilliamson1884]

Remnick is always son insightful. Thank you

[@billr848]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@josephtraficanti689]

The interaction of Walter and David Remnick was fascinating. I do not recall ever seeing Walter looking so serious during his hosting of a speaker. Let us look at the geographic and spiritual position of Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine sees itself as a country on the dividing region between the Western traditions of the liberation of the human spirit. The West aspires to the greatness of the individual in creating new thoughts. The Ukraine desperately wants to show the West that it is capable of becoming a real asset and wants to join the West. Russian soul. What is it? Russia is this huge country that has this history which includes the Mongolian traditions and history. Genghis Kahn is integral. Does this resonate well with the Renaissance of the West? Does the works of. Dostoyevsky speak of aspiration to the highest potential achievable by the human mind? Or does it speak of another tradition? The will to survive in a life of oppression seems more like it. How does a man preserve his life in the ocean when oppressed with a millstone chained to his neck as he struggles to simply keep breathing in the world of air and sunshine. Without being dragged to the ocean's depths and death. That fits so well with Putin's view of what Russia should be. The domination of a people who have no say in their fate or their future. I cannot blame the Ukraine people who want to join the European view of the meaning and promise of THE ENLIGHTENMENT. WHICH PRODUCED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORKS OF JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU. WE ASPIRE TO REACH LOFTY GOALS WE ARE. A WORK IN PROGRESS WE WILL FAIL TO PROGRESS IF WE ABANDON THE UKRAINE.

[@susannamarker2582]

This invasion is wrong, but the Ukraine should remain a neutral buffer state after this invasion is finished. The Ukraine should not join NATO and the EU. Nor should it be aligned with Russia, of course. The Ukraine should trade with the whole world on its own terms, attract foreign investment and fight its own endemic corruption levels.

[@elenalatici9568]

This is the best interview about the savage brutality we are being forced to watch feeling horrified and helpless. I can always count on this Amanpour channel.

[@sparkysmalarkey]

What fascinates me about all of this is, amiss all Putin's attempts to put his power on display, Ukrainian's capability for Grace and great violence has stolen the spotlight. You won't make it very far in to their history before you understand where it comes from, and it goes on and on and on. Antifragility is what enables all life on this planet fight back against forces of nature, but you have to go through the wringer to achieve it. Something to think about while we live our cushy lives.

[@truman4956]

Another great book to understand Putin and Russia is The Road to Unfreedom:Russia, Europe, America by Timothy Snyder. He delves into the historical justifications for Putin’s war and the future implications for Europe and America.

[@vickie101]

Thank you.

[@camillep9346]

Spot on….

[@annemarie1507]

So basically Putin just can't deal with the reality that people simply don't want to live under the oppression of hyper-macho bullies like him. He sees their rejection of his self-proclaimed authority as misbehavior that must be punished brutally. The fact that he's of short stature probably plays a big part in his insecurity.

[@lyndaweister9984]

EXACTLY 💯 %TRUE CORRECT UNBELIEVABLE!!

[@paulkoester9242]

Yes for s u're. I amfr on a very tall family I have always short man syndrome is most. Definitely real thing. It's always the short me who are bullies get rid of Putin today.

[@kicka11]

Russia is a police state and has been for many years.

[@lektwik]

The Cone of Silence never worked for Maxwell Smart.

[@Dubya1226]

Sad to say, there is no way I see this ending diplomatically. Ukraine will want to enter NATO for protection. Putin won't want that . Putin will want land concessions, and Ukraine won't want that. Unless Putin says alright I'm done, pack up go home nothing to see here, Ukraine will always remember this. The tension/animosity will never go away.

[@LCTesla]

the silver lining is that this is Putin's personal nightmare scenario. a war that constantly drains his funds and popular support, that he can NOT pull out of. no off ramps except for him to step down or be forcibly removed.

[@RobBCactive]

Zelensky said they won't, NATO admission is tricky because all members need to accept the defence commitment. Ukraine in EU & NATO is a total victory fantasy scenario, but EU members have political pressures at home to consider.

[@Dubya1226]

@@zoundstreetop I think he’s just resigned to that fact that he’s in no man’s land. Do it and you are dooming the country to future aggression. NATO also, if they all told the truth, probably would prefer if they didn’t join.

[@Peace17292]

@@RobBCactive I think EU membership is totally plausible.

[@martinw245]

Unless the people that surround Putin decide his reign is over.

[@quddusquddus136]

In other words, Putin must come to terms with William Faulkner's stress over the importance of the past: "Past is never dead, it's not even past." Hence the importance of history. What a conclusion in this video presentation. A wonderful discussion.

[@bg147]

it illustrates how a much smaller force with state of the art weapons along with superb tactics and tenacity can bloody a much larger force. The size of a country's military is significant but there are many other factors involved. This isn't the 1940s.

[@philippedefechereux8740]

Brilliant, enlightening. Thank you.

[@TG-lp9vi]

The west must continue to support Ukraine militarily. Prolonging the war will put more pressure on the Russian system and the population will put more pressure on local politicians. More pressure on Putin’s inner circle will eventually lead to Putin’s overthrow. The west also has to stop being so transparent on how their are helping Ukraine. Why tip of Putin?

[@raykhan5988]

Let’s give Putin lots of reasons to resent the west.

[@karlparratt1730]

Dictators always hate the west. One reason is because in the west we know dictatatorship is wrong.

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Very enlightening. I can now see why he is a Pulitzer price winner. I have his book King of the World, but I'll have to get Lenin's Tomb.

[@stuartschwartz234]

If you have not read Lenin's Tomb, I highly recommend it, especially to provide some historical context to current events in Ukraine. It's very well-written and not a dry, historical study by any means.

[@joeyfotofr]

"Once the system showed itself for what it was and had been, it was doomed." M. Gorbachev - written on Lenin's Tomb

[@marydonohoe8200]

Putin is a product of the old USSR, from Stalin through Brezhnev. Gorbachev was the liberator, but with Yeltsin it couldn’t last. It is up to the people of Russia to decide for tyranny or democracy. And it may involve great risk to move toward democratization; but of course, it will be worth the cost.

[@janedagger]

From what I've understood, Yeltsin sought out Putin because he wanted to basically resign, but do it without loosing the "riches" he had garnered while in power and understood Putin as one who would manage such an agreement honestly and not renege. And Yeltsin left office, installed Putin, and left with all that he had stolen without being messed with in any way at all.

[@adscri]

Hindsight - 20/20 as always.

[@arnystieber732]

Remember Bush 2 saying “mission accomplished”? Putin fits the mold.

[@sbaumgartner9848]

Try listening to Remnick interview Professor Stephen Kotkin on the KZbin New Yorker. Remnick has been deeply affected by Kotkin's immense knowledge of Russia. he says "Stephen Kotkin is one of our most profound and prodigious scholars of Russian history." Timothy Snyder and Anne Applebaum also do deep deep dives into this area of the world. To his credit, Remnick learns much of what he knows from these people.

[@mellowyello989]

Exactly. Was always the same. Planned this from the beginning. The west was blind

[@awpetersen5909]

Yes, we are naive

[@lah1743]

Hard to believe a modern day leader could be so backward. Are you sure Putin just isn't after Ukraine's resources and trade relationships? Oil is dead, Russia lacks sea access and needs to develop new industry. Ukraine is developing and modern. Russia isn't.

[@nurseratched5537]

Well Trump was backwards too.

[@martinw245]

I heard that large natural gas fields have been discovered in Ukraine. We can over intelectualize if we like, but sometimes it's simple.

[@Dustinrhoades]

Remnick is the man!

[@monsieurbojangles2336]

Have some self respect

[@lorriholder3045]

That's so interesting.

[@mxr572]

great interview. dictatorships work well in the short run but cause great misery and fail in the long run. Putin and Russia are no different. the pain of the Ukraine invasion and subsequent sanctions will affect Russians to the extent that regime change will happen. if not sooner than certainly later.

[@qui-si-sana]

Brilliant journalism.. .I may add that its impossible to defeat a nation/people fighting for their independence and freedom.

[@theobserver9131]

A bit off-topic but, I am curious how this is affecting Edward Snowden. This has got to be making his situation somewhat less comfortable.

[@RalphDratman]

Remnick: "We shouldn't underestimate the power of the historical tug towards what we now see as Putinism." [in Russia] ALSO: "We shouldn't underestimate the power of the historical tug towards what we now see as Trumpism." [in the US]

[@wendyowen969]

Well said! The similarities are obvious.

[@wfwfewfds]

You don't know us and are talking nonsense about Trumpism. At least they found out something about us and then they would draw conclusions. There is nowhere to put brands on you, you interfered in the affairs of sovereign states, bombed, invaded and then say that we are aggressors and live with a dictator? And the funniest thing is about your freedom of speech. Try to say something not from the general opinion, they will rot and say that you are an agent of the Kremlin. You are a cheerful people, you can't say anything yourself or you are afraid, but you reproach us with this. Take care of yourself, we'll figure it out for ourselves.

[@RalphDratman]

@@wfwfewfds Thank you for your reply. Remnick spoke of the historical tug toward authoritarian government in Russia. I am comparing that with the historical tug in the US toward deep racism and aggressive ignorance If you say that is wrong, please explain.

[@RalphDratman]

@@wfwfewfds I have tremendous respect for Russia and the Russian people. The point of my comment was to highlight our own US problems and defects.

[@jeaninegimlin7746]

Old men always want to relive their Glory days

[@sillywill72]

👊🇺🇦👊🇺🇦👊🇺🇦👊🇺🇦👊

[@stevenwilgus5422]

Putin is another short guy with a huge chip on his shoulder.

[@Bootrosgali]

People at the top of their fields of opposing , or somewhat opposing , points of view on it simply do not debate anymore. Or it is very rare. It is very destabilising for a culture to have the same point of view parroting each other on the main media platforms, and never the twain shall meet. It makes it very hard for the common person to see face to face what each side has got, in debate. For example, I would suggest Jonhn Mearsheimer debate Rennick on the topic of the history and future of this problem. It is vitally important to expose ones point of view to the different learned people on this, and every topic.

[@brentholcomb9576]

I very much appreciate the interview and Mr. Remnick’s expertise, but I have to say that his answer to the question, “Should NATO have expanded to include Ukraine?” is emblematic of many commentators I’ve heard recently. He laughs it off with a no, then states that many Ukrainians would probably have wanted that, and then praises the Ukrainians for their personal efforts. This seems like a logical inconsistency that has plagued western policy for a long time- possibly resulting in the current situation. Ukraine should have been a member of NATO before the ink was dry on the Budapest Memorandum. I’m sure Ukrainians are rejoicing over the West’s laudatory remarks concerning their personal sacrifice right now.

[@yafanna3]

Is Putin threatening to conquer Alaska now? Even the slightest hint of threat should send military defense there.

[@JO-mg6xc]

Putin’s second and personal humiliation in progress. Nice, very nice…

[@davidkane3244]

Glory to the heroes 🌻 SLAVA UKRAINE

[@jules1again]

Don't forget how his church plants are regurgitating his bile

[@evermar1]

Maybe Putin can get asylum at Mar-a-Lago.