Why is Russia Like That? - Russian Invasion of Ukraine - Cold War

David talks about the Russian history after the Cold War giving a background of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
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#ColdWar #Documentary #Ukraine

[@catriona_drummond]

A very important event that made Russians very skeptical of democracy was the constitutional crisis of 1993, when Yeltsin dissolved the parliament without having the consitutional right to do so and had the parliament shot with tanks into submission. Hundreds of people died or were injured, Yeltsin as the strong man president had the full support of the West and many Russians realized that their democracy will just be another version of despotism.

[@alexanderd964]

Absolutely right. We had realized, that "liberal democracy" is just an euphemism for the dictatorship of the US. Just another market brand to sell you a shitty garbage.

[@alexklemens6005]

Then the Russian people should fight for democracy and not just accept despotism. No one can build democracy for you, it’s the responsibility of russians to work for freedom

[@catriona_drummond]

@@alexklemens6005 I think that is their own business.

[@judithshapiro1557]

This question haunts me @catriona_drummond I watched it from my kitchen window. What were the alternatives? What did you think of the March referendum?

[@catriona_drummond]

@@judithshapiro1557 Difficult to say, really. Honestly I think the county would not have plummeted back into soviet planned economy times. No idea what the parliament would have done after successfully getting rid of Yeltsin. But I like to think that "strong men politics" that started dominating Russia could have been avoided. Things would have been more unstable probably, but also more democratic. As for the march 1991 referendum - well that was just tragic. Politicians putting their ambitions to gain power (albeit in smaller entities) over the will of the people. Maybe it was an omen for 1993. I think the early 90's were a tragedy for Russia and many other soviet states. The people were ready for democracy I think. But their politicians had other plans. Were there even any proper democrats? And now there Is a war. Our common house of Europe is divided again. I cry.

[@PaulZyCZ]

I identify as Czech by nationality, but I'm near-half Russian by ethnicity. My maternal grandpa from Kiev (a former Red Army officer) threw all his medals out of the window when he heard the USSR had been dissolved, being angry at Communists for quote "Selling an empire to Americans". Poverty, hunger, corrupted oligarchy ruling in all former Soviet countries. Putin misused such sentiments to build his power, which cost me my uncle already (who had volunteered for Kiev in 2014). This decade going conflict also glued Ukrainian citizens together more than anything.

[@sancheztraidor672]

Ukrainische Soldaten benutzen Krankenwagen, um sich fortzubewegen, und Krankenhäuser, um sich zu verstecken, wodurch sie zu militärischen Zielen Russlands werden kzbin.info/www/bejne/aafZd2yKqq5qgZY

[@hasnaouiabderaouf3570]

also made the Russian speaking Ukrainian a out from this country separation is the best option and neutrality

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

idk it seems the ruble has rebounded ..which begs the question..who are the sanctions aimed at..the gouverment..the people..or the great reset ie 5th gen war ie the citizens of the world..bc they are the one s qho are suffering..russia will have food oil and gas..at least.. but africa? mena? the West pretends to care about the South,but do they? Why do you think the arabs don t play ball with ol man biden,..they know they re net..what SA did in Yemen is at least as bad as what s happening here..and the US and France clapped and cheered :) also in the 90s China(the economic furnace) did not exist..hell South koreea had a better economy than the whole of China

[@wojteklabuc]

Paul I'm Pole. My grandpa was living on territory which after 17th September 1939 was governed by Soviets. In 1941 he was forced into Red Army. He went all the way during retreat and then all the way to Berlin. He kept his medals but I never meet someone hating Russians as fiercely as him. He even change his faith from Orthodox to Roman Catholic. He didn't wanted to return to his parents because after 1945 it was part of Russia (now Belarus close to Lithuanian border). 2 of his brothers choose to move away too. One emigrated to Canada and another one to USA. Our families endured tough times but we were lucky to live on "luckier" side of the border. And this conflict united not only Ukraine. We as neighbours learned a lot now about "greater good" and need for unity and working together. There are still some people in our countries spreading Russian propaganda and trying to divide us. But we'll prevail. And Ukraine will be much stronger after victory. I want to mention what Stefan Starzyński mayor of Warsaw in September 1939 said when Germans were bombarding and shelling Warsaw. He said that he was dreaming about beautiful Warsaw with amazing buildings but then he saw Warsaw defending against invasion, Warsaw largely in ruins, is most beautiful because of people and their bravery. It's same now in Ukraine with all Ukrainians showing what courage and patriotism is. New Nazis are destroying cities, towns and villages but Ukraine stands beautiful. And Ukraine will be rebuild to be amazing, breathtaking place after winning war.

[@politicalridicule]

@@wojteklabuc Iraq 2003 - silence Libya 2011 - silence Ukraine 2014 - silence Yemeni 2014 - silence Ukraine 2022 - Stop war! No war! Yemeni 2022 - silence Now Russia is not USSR. Russia wants to become an imperialist like the others.

[@vytczka]

There were over 15.000 companies, that went from being state managed, to being privatized almost instantly. The sheer scale of it is insane. The most important info was to know which one's of them was profitable, and those who had the best info were GRU and KGB intel officers, who either became oligarchs, or who's loyal vassals did. The same class, the siloviki, retained it's influence under a new economic system. That's why their elites maintain a similar mentality. Ordinary Russians had no experience and basic knowledge of how a private market works, so they were ripped off, or threatened by those who did.

[@jamaaldaynitelong8367]

Sad but true. One day the average Russian can catch a break.

[@AB8511]

And there is also national resources course. I assume, on the basis of your name that you are from one of the Baltic states. I am from Slovakia. Both of our nations went through similar economic transformation, but neither one had the recourse to the easy oil and gas money. We had to develop market economy and appropriate legal and institutional framework for it (entrance to EU was just a natural consequence). As long as russian state will have a sufficient income from selling of natural resources it can still get enough money to pay regime loyalist in army and security services (in the case of police force in very specific russian way...) to supress dissent and hinder any meaningful change. Current emigration wave from Russia shows, that young people realize that...

[@vytczka]

@@AB8511 Yes, I'm from Lithuania and had to went through a similar shock and transformation, also with no cheap resources. Just on a lot smaller scale than Russia, had our own wild 90's. A real shame Russia couldn't transform into a functioning country with institutions.

[@jamaaldaynitelong8367]

@@vytczka I worked with two Lithuanians...Good guys, like to party, and darn basketball players😁

[@vytczka]

@@jamaaldaynitelong8367 We all play ball here as soon as we walk :D

[@saturnv2419]

The funniest thing about this, is it started with Ukraine trying to join EU's partnership program, not EU itself. Yet now at least in negotiation, Russia do not oppose Ukraine joining EU itself. Beforehand US worried about deploying long range missile into Poland, now Poland is literally demanding US deploy long range missiles in Poland.

[@uncletimo6059]

The result of this fiasco is the OPPOSITE for what was intended. NATO as in its death throes, Germany was openly looking to get out of it and tell the (occupying?) US ARMY to get out, they wanted to trade more with Russia - get oil, sell them high tech machines. NATO was trying to justify its existence. NOW we have Finland (!!! remember "finlandization"? if not look it up) trying to join NATO. In fact ALL neighbors of Russia want to join it (with good reason).

[@cainiwakura]

it actually start earlier at bucharest 2008 nato summit when it is first proposed that ukraine and georgia might join nato, then russo georgian war. It just that back then russia still recovering post cold war.

[@PhilipOConnell]

@@cainiwakura Acually goes back even further to 2004 and the orange revolution in Ukraine. The results of which caused Ukraine's first president who wanted closer ties to the EU and the west instead of russia to come to power. Previous Ukraine presidents had maintained a close relationship with Russia.

[@sohaibshehzad2052]

@@PhilipOConnell That Pro West Ukrainian President (Viktor Yushchenko) left office with a single digit approval rating.

[@viktorias63]

Ah yes that's why Russia rigged elections in 2004 and poisoned Yushchenko who wanted closer ties with Europe.

[@commonsense8909]

I like this sorta discussion / interview process every few weeks while the war is going on. Whenever you do the historical topics, perhaps tying it to the current events would be good way to see how interconnected the past is to the stuff happening today is. Thanks for the video. Keep up the good work.

[@fgrodriguezqac]

It’s surprising how the video comes out and within 4 minutes people are already posting their theories on the subject. Clearly none of them watched the video which is 24 minutes long.

[@iattacku2773]

They pretty much read the title only

[@BringbackgAmberleafns]

People who are watching this video probably have some sort of interest in Russian history. So they can start conversation and comment on the subject with some competence.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

Speaking out is easier than listening.

[@2bit8bytes]

Some people might get early access. Other channels do it for Patreon members.

[@AnEnemy100]

Okay. I have some stories from the ‘90s specific to what can really only be discribed as the humiliation of the USSR. I cannot tell all of them but here are some illustrations: Trains passing close to a factory producing traditional Russian shot glasses would be stopped so that the desperate workers from the factory could try to sell the glasses which they had been given in lieu of pay to passengers. Russian academics on an exchange program to a Western European country turned out to be uninterested in their subject areas but very interested in buying as many electrical goods and pairs of sunglasses as possible. When a Russian speaking employee of a western company that was promoting its goods in the freshly opened market was surprised by the high price of his taxi ride he complained to the driver. Afterwards his two body guards (given by his company) unexpectedly came to his hotel room to tell him they had sorted the taxi driver out. He could see blood on them. After that he always paid whatever people asked without complaint.

[@fuguthefish]

Thank you for covering those modern topics, it fits your channel perfectly because basically we are living on a continuation of that Cold War.

[@badluck5647]

Not really. The Soviet Union had civil nationalism where they had common values and ideology. Modern Russian doesn't have that anymore. The new nationalism is an ethnic based where Russians believe that Slavic nations should be united under Moscow rule and then the New Russia should dominate all other ethnic groups due to a perceived superiority of Russians. This seems more like a return to the fight against fascist than a fight against communists.

[@fuguthefish]

@@badluck5647 The Soviet Union was ethno-nationalistic as hell, what are you talking about? Yes, they liked to claim equality and other stuff as part of the commie propaganda but in fact the Russian leadership were above the rest. And if you don't really get it, those ideologies are after all only different vehicles for the same old imperial dream, when this divide between Russia and "The West" started for the first time.

[@joseaca1010]

Its really astonishing the magnitude of the sanctions, even if they ended today, the effects on the economy would be felt for many years I mean, im a software engineer, if my country suddenly in a single day, lost access to software from SAP, Microsoft and Oracle, and got banned from importing high end microchips, they would basically make my job almost obsolete, i would seek to emigrate immediately

[@AB8511]

And they do, they do...

[@bobs_toys]

I was smiling until you got to the unable to import microchips bit. But I'm a Linux DevOps engineer who's been burned by Oracle

[@joseaca1010]

@@bobs_toys java is my languagefu, i cant say no to her oracle databases are also really easy to manage

[@bobs_toys]

@@joseaca1010 python. And there was more history on these DBs. Not something I can post details on, but I had some dodgy ones that would have made the news in a very high profile way. I'm being unfair, but I'd earnt the right to be unfair 😛

[@HeliosLegion]

Just pirate that stuff.

[@dcviper985]

Thanks for these. I really enjoy getting the historical context behind what I see on the news

[@caseymauldin8396]

Thank you for making these, I hope that we can see them somewhat more often as I love current events.

[@kunalphadte2674]

Next Special: How David almost bought a T-72? 😳

[@conorstapleton3183]

Answer: he got it from an ukrainian farmer.

[@lhpoetry]

The 90s also saw massive inflation that eventually lead to, after stabilization, 1000 RUB becoming 1 RUB (Except in Belarus, where tens of thousands of Rubles are used for every day purchases to this day.) Many people lost their jobs, their savings, their pensions, and mafias and gangs were operating with impunity. Many people didn't have more than bread to eat, and some didn't have much of that. It was bad...I've seen video from like orphanages in the 1990s in Central Asia and the kids are emaciated and starving...some of the best Russian film pieces, like Brat and Brigada, talk about the criminal side of these realities. Chechnya's independence movement was also supported by the continued Cold War politics that mirrored the Soviet War in Afghanistan: lots of Saudi money for Jihad and Islamization, and for sure some opportunist Western intrigues. Putin's opportunism in Crimea and Syria were largely defensive in thinking. The revolution in Ukraine threatened his naval bases in Crimea. The revolution in Syria threatened his only naval port in the Mediterranean, and his main foothold in the Middle East. He did not see these moves as offensive, but more as drawing lines in the sand as far as "what we cannot afford to lose." The West definitely saw these opportunities as chances to expand their own influence. The old saying of "Russia with Ukraine is an empire" seems appropriate to the current situation. And that is why NATO is relevant to this situation...because Russia, having a paranoid leadership, feels like the lines have been redrawn post-1990s in the favor of NATO...remember the Cuban missile crisis?...that was NATO in Turkey...these days the line which used to be in the middle of Germany, is now in the Baltics where there are NO natural defense barriers between Russia and NATO forces. And to a country whose experience of the last 200 years was having Napoleon, Poland, and Nazi Germany invading well into Russian territory, they know how wars without those natural barriers end up going, so any buffer zone seems like a necessity. This is hard to understand for Americans, whose neighbors haven't posed a threat since at least 1814, or British people, who have an ocean surrounding them. A lot of what Putin has done in Syria, Ukraine, and with Afghan diplomacy is try to create an equivalency between Russia's actions and those of the West...and often times, he has made fools of the West because he is doing the same things Western powers are doing, just being less subtle and more upfront about it...and because of that hybrid Western/Eastern mentality, causing the West to lose face IS one of the goals in a lot of the things Putin does. The West, on the other hand, continues to expand its power, trading blocs, and spheres of influence, and when Putin complains about it, they throw up their hands and act like nothing has happened. Genghis Khan slaughtered cities when they refused to trade with him, and that basic motivation of markets for goods and raw materials to extract (Ukraine, Central Asia in the case of Russia...Central America and in the 2000s Iraq in the case of the US, Eastern Europe and beyond in the case of the EU) are the basic definition of colonialism. Many people support Putin because they only watch RussianOne, and most people don't read between the lines or question what they see on TV, and they are isolated from conflicting ideas because the discourse in Russian is dominated by state-run media. The middle class in Moscow and St. Pete, which speak English, travel abroad regularly, read opposition news, and are close enough to the halls of power to know how things actually work, have a very different relationship to the government and such news. Also, Russia has an Asian (Mongol?) component to its mentality, which values strength, cleverness, order, and stability over freedom, transparency, and rights. And those values are very much informed also by the very formative experience of living through 1990s... Anyway, I'm not saying that Putin's intervention in Ukraine or his seizure of Crimea were justified...but they are not irrational acts, and they come in a context (NATO expanding, The US in Central Asia (up until very recently) Naval bases under threat, the EU economic bloc expanding) that is very relevant to understanding why...

[@ryanthomas887]

David I love your content and research. You present things very objectively with professional scholarship. Have you written any books? You really should if you haven’t. You could really put your entire series in a history book.

[@jbkhan1135]

Absolutely, if David wrote a book on this cold war series, I'd preorder it in a heartbeat

[@AnEnemy100]

I don’t know. I like this format. He does well here. Don’t fix what isn’t broken!

[@ryanthomas887]

@@AnEnemy100 I guess it’s up to him but I think he could do both.

[@jbkhan1135]

Really love this channel and this series of videos. Very informative, please keep it up!

[@Niinsa62]

Really interesting conversation! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@bennybot23]

Never watched your videos before but I love you're honesty and you're realism. Subbed.

[@oldesertguy9616]

Good video. I appreciate your perspective.

[@morkroth]

I am definitely enjoying this content and listening to your perspective

[@andrewmerklinghaus6316]

Late to the party but I really appreciate the pause before answering questions to think and phrase carefully

[@JonatasAdoM]

I came from a low volume video and that first sound felt like someone was hammering my ears. That's good volume.

[@prastagus3]

Wasn't Yeltsin doing the Free Market Shock Therapy at the time which caused Russia economy undergoing a really bad period before it got better? Also let's not skip how Putin's view on NATO intervention in Yugoslavia shaped his direction change later.

[@MtyEJQuinn]

I think this is a pretty important point. Their was another podcast I listened to that claims that the shock therapy implemented in countries like Poland had support from Western powers that Russia didn't get. Those claims seemed to be backed up pretty well, and that combined with NATO actions could be seen as adversarial to Russians. I agree with the video's argument that at the core this is Russia trying to exert a sphere of influence, but I don't think it's fair to just discount NATO completely. NATO being an organization specifically Anti-Soviet continuing to exist post Soviet Union could be then seen as Anti-Russia. David is defining NATO as this organization whose purpose is just a defensive alliance from Russia, and they have a good reason for that, but I would want to really know how did Russians see it in the '90s-'10s.

[@prastagus3]

@@MtyEJQuinn Russia definitely did not get western aid that it was promised during its Shock Therapy time. This coupled with NATO east expansion in 1994 and 1999, and Yugoslavia intervention with Kosovo separation and eventual independence, paved the way for Russians and Putin to turn east instead of turning West. It was a missed opportunity by the West not coopting Russia into EU structure but instead push it toward China in all these years.

[@illyrian44]

Are you surprised though? This channel is a literal corporate mouthpiece, just check out their sponsors.

[@kazakhdoge1822]

Mate, do you think that Ukraine didn't suffer in the 90s as well?

[@prastagus3]

@@kazakhdoge1822 no one said that

[@dearashad]

I really like both formats. The presentation is lovely, but the research and content are why I come back. The speculation is educated, so is more valuable than the talking heads’ is.

[@jamesforreal]

I like this format. Thanks for the video!

[@ben5056]

Thank you this was very interesting

[@skyview2145]

Thanks for the post and I did watch until the end. Great as always. I recently read an interesting backgrounder called “A Failed Empire” by by Vladimir Zubok which gives a historical context to a lot of your comments

[@renevanderwoude4954]

I like the interactive format; more engaging. You may want to consider this for the regular episodes

[@azzureone78]

A T-72 would be a hell of a souvenir!

[@gumpmosh]

go try to get it

[@HNH421]

@@gumpmosh help your self - the place is - covered in burnt out T-72

[@Perkelenaattori]

I read Svetlana Alexievich's book Second-Hand Time: The Last of the Soviets which is basically the story of the fall of the Soviet Union from the eyes of several citizens and I gotta say I would recommend it to everyone. It really offers a good glimpse into the psyche of the Russian people and the terrible shock that the fall was. A truly excellent book.

[@canman5060]

The most shocking part is housing for the Russian and all them didn't have a faintest indea what a mortgage is with the State taking care of everything under socialism !

[@AnEnemy100]

Yes. I read La Suplication. A French translation of her account of Chernobyl. Extraordinary and lucid read.

[@somnathmukherjee8250]

Not sure why it should be a shock . The whole regime just built on flasehood and kept the whole nation poor , underfed. It was no way close to being a superpower. A lot of its weapons were also dummies

[@heatherygraine5836]

As much as the fall of the Spanish Empire 🤷‍♀️ which ironically gave the Golden Century of Spanish literature. This must probably be the feeling of people at the loss of what they feel is a part of their country, paired with bankrupcy and decadence.

[@ellaeadig263]

I like all your videos but I just want to say I'd also like to see more in this format, this Q&A style. It makes me feel like I've been to a lecture and afterwards there's a Q&A session and everything's much more conversational and personal as opposed to a script. :)

Interesting Video.

[@jaysabilla8596]

awesome explainer!

[@jordanlester9276]

I am looking forward to watching this

[@jlvfr]

I think the main diference between the fall of the USSR and today is how interconected with the outside, economically and socially, Russia has become. Afaik the USSR had, generally speaking, at the level of Joe/Jane-on-the-street, very few links with the west; it tried to be as self contained as possible, and it failed. But, bad as it was, it allowed for western links & opportunities to be taken up, at all levels. Today, like pretty much every modern nation, Russia depends on it's outside links. Cut them and what's left? Nothing.

[@alexsilent5603]

Yes, if you cut the world away from Russia, then the world will cease to exist.

[@sofiaormbustad7467]

@@haggi2132 OK, Vatnik

[@FlymanMS]

@@haggi2132 keep dreaming, half of what you said is rose tinted

[@baky582]

@@haggi2132 ok Russian troll. Whatever you say. Enjoy potato's and vodka.

[@FlymanMS]

@@haggi2132 oh boy with your account no wonder you make such comments. Touch the grass

[@ritwikg2818]

Your videos are great, thanks for such information . Kindly accumulate all your videos in single place

[@JonatasAdoM]

The Chechen war is barely mentioned. It is just like the Korean war and I believe a lot of people just play along when they hear about it. How can we talk about Ukrainiane, if we don't even know about Georgia and Chechenia for example (then again this new mess started with Crimea and I don't even see it mentioned outside of a few places).

[@thondalor]

This sort of content is just fantastic, very interesting and super important - the fact that Dave is clearly presenting this and opinion and that, even with knowledge and research, this is very limited is so refreshing. So many outlets are using that as a disclaimer before presenting information about the conflict in the same way they present clear facts on academic matters

[@michaelrider]

Interesting. Please continu.

[@rafale1981]

Really interesting talk, thank you! Can you as a historian describe the social, economic and cultural factors that led to the russian army being in such a deplorable state now and what social, economic and cultural changes happened in ukraine, that their army managed to improve so much, given that they started out with the same preconditions in the 90ies? You can also talk about russian and ukrainian states, if thats more up your alley and it interests me all the same :)

[@nicknickbon22]

Well, since 2014 Ukrainian army has been trained by western countries, this certainly has helped.

[@TitusLeung]

I even see several channels, either outside or within Kings and Generals sphere, compare this invasion of Ukraine with 1979's Soviet invasion with Afghanistan, as the Soviet/Russian military deal with the same logistical nightmare. What lies behind (political or social) should be interesting.

[@varana]

In 2014, the Ukrainian army basically wasn't capable of doing anything. That's the main reason why they had to resort to volunteer and paramilitary units in the war in the Donbass. The current strength is a result of reforms and training in the last 8 years, not a different development since the 90s.

[@danielcreamer9669]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXvOnpaEn82SmMk Pretty interesting analysis, though I'd still love to see Cold War's take.

[@skipperson4077]

two thoughts 1) motivation - Ukrainian forces know they are fighting for their nation, Russian forces know they are fighting for Putin. 2) Mafia state driven by selling state assets for personal gain - as such military stores and weaponry are vulnerable to 'export' or false-invoicing (ordered 1500, received 500). It's really hard to tell what is happening on the combat front but logistics seem to be a real mess, armored vehicles running out of gas, Russia apparently approaching China for meal-rations, decrease in Russian air operations, etc.

[@lima153330]

Please keep doing this while the war is raging

[@RedStar439]

Because the 90's were hell, no matter how good the US and Europe had it. Good video.

[@iattacku2773]

Yugoslavia and Rwanda: “ tell me about it”

[@BringbackgAmberleafns]

@@iattacku2773 while it was getting better by the 90s Northern ireland was pretty hellish in the 90s as well. I do detest the 90s were perfect narrative. They were far from it.

[@jamespence9469]

Another top-notch video from the channel. Topic for another show like this one? How about some of those "far better answers" you thought of in your car on the way home.

[@cmanlovespancakes]

Consider also that Ukraine has abundant natural gas reserves which Putin would love to get his hands on to make Europe more dependent on Russian energy.

[@RUSSIAN_SHRILL]

Where are these reserves?

[@MrNebelschatten]

@@RUSSIAN_SHRILL some are in the east near Donbas, others are on the western plains. Also some oil shelves have been found close to the Crimean waters I heard.

[@dutchvanderlinde5004]

Love your honesty, humility, and great opinions. Keep up the great videos.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

Probably the worst thing that can happen to an economy, right after total nationalization of everything, would be the rapid privatization of everything. The 1990's was a time of gangster businessmen and their gang wars. Afterwards, they were entrenched and there are no more gangster wars between them, because they're part of the establishment that has killed economic competitivity and entrepreneurship.

[@lobstereleven4610]

absolutely loving these series! keep it up!

[@ulteamracing1]

Very interesting analysis

[@Mike-tg7dj]

Good point!

[@PhonciblePBonehimself]

Thank you very much for your insights ! Keep it up :)

[@mikebaker2436]

The KZbin channel, Money & Macro did a video 5 days ago about the rise and fall Russia where he critiques the economic/political cycles in Russia from the Revolution to the present. That and this video are good companion pieces.

[@timdekker1977]

Perhaps an interesting topic could be the way Russia views resources in its economy. From the tsar, the Soviets and now. This mix of the exploitation of its nation resources, a small group of super rich/powerful between state and population is a reoccurring problem.

[@WP-cu2pf]

Yeah, small circle of rich ppl only exist in Russia... Also it should be said that if the oligarchs had any saying this war probably would never happened. They took the largest hit, their accounts frozen, businesses ruined, property confiscated etc.

[@tommontreal4821]

There is precious little in the news about the ethnic/linguistic composition of Ukraine. Why are there ethnic Ukrainians who speak Russian as their primary language? And what about ethnic Russians in the eastern regions - why do they not speak Ukrainian (or do they?). How did Ukraine end up having so many ethnic Russians in its eastern regions? How do ethnic Ukrainians view their Russian speaking fellow citizens? And vice versa? What are the political allegiances and sensibilities of Russian speaking Ukrainians - do they associate more with Russia rather than with Ukraine?

[@viktorias63]

@@joek600 a lot of lies here Joe, how many rubels did Kremlin pay you to say this bs.

[@frankknudsen842]

If I may ,while your topical presentations are excellent. You questioned discussions are even better . It does you a lot of credit I think. If you could ever manage to swing an auditorium setting w a Q&A session, it would totally lay out oyt your knowledge and experience in this field. To me.

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting!

[@MyBoomStick1]

Really enjoyed this, would love anothet

[@jakearmstrong335]

This was a great video! I really appreciate the time and thought put into it!

[@ironheart5830]

Wow so interesting 😮

[@joanofarc6402]

This was a truthful and very interesting chat! Thank you so much. You described everything as I understood these countries and events

[@TitusLeung]

You always humbly states that you are not an expert on today's Russia and its invasion of Ukraine is remarkable, even though I, as a podcaster myself (on Hongkong as well Communist Chinese issues) would have to say that, the link of history between Soviet and current Russia are always there, therefore your insight as a Cold War expert is exceptionally useful for us to understand today's Russia's motive. Hats off to you. Talking about empire building, I guess even during Soviet era, the mentality is not that different, I guess: they also has Comintern that "try to spread the revolution to the world". Since Putin himself believe the breaking up of Soviet Union as "the greatest tragedy in the 20th century", he probably inherit a lot of concept from his "Soviet motherland". It is very interesting, however, is Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who criticized Soviet Russia so much in the past, praise even embrace Putin's Russia just as much. Writing so much just want to say: Thank you very much for your insight. My reading recommendation: «1587, a Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty in Decline» by Ray Huang

[@user-cx1ki8li4t]

IS Ming 明？

[@Numba003]

@@user-cx1ki8li4t If I understand your question correctly, then yes. I hope this helps! God bless you friend. ✝️ :)

[@mrmr446]

I think the Russian pride is in being the main country that defeated the Nazis in Europe and a country that other major powers took seriously, along with a history that includes surviving five invasions in two centuries. The invasion of Ukraine has done as much damage to that image as being 'surrounded' by Nato, if I had worried about Russian invasion before their capability will take years to recover.

[@comicbookninja5268]

It appears to me that for the last 2 centuries Russia is great at defending themselves when someone invades them but when they fight outside of their sphere of influence from the Russo-Japanese War to today, not so much.

[@mrmr446]

@@comicbookninja5268 That's why I always thought the Soviet threat to the rest of the continent was exaggerated.

[@frankieseward8667]

@@comicbookninja5268 indeed. Korea and Afghanistan proved that. Heck the only reason why the invasions of Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968 was because they had the Warsaw Pacts help.

[@cineva5404]

we still remember the russian "freedom", from 1944. crimes, rapes, murder, steal. deportation into siberia or baragan, in order to impose comunism. how can we fell now, when we sow all the murder in ucraine? how can you go from heaving a life, a home, some stability in your life to this? how?

[@viktorias63]

USSR an nazis signed a pact to divide Poland and start ww2

[@EnzoFerrari63193]

Some weeks ago the German magazine Der Spiegel quoted English documents published by the MI6. These texts concern negotiations between the western world and Gorbaciov's ussr in 1990. Gorbaciov accepted a united Germany, but he asked Nato not to accept Eastern-European nations' applications. In the end Gorbaciov's power fell down and so everything finished in this way. As Putin's losing popularity in Russia and he wants to be remembered as the man who built back the Russian empire, he did what we all know.

[@vincenzoditommaso9596]

Nothing to do with Nato? Come on we strangled Russia for 30 years. Please. Let's be honest.

[@nolanlewis538]

Cant deny the fact that america was placing anti ballistic missiles in nato members states bordering russia. Thats what initially started the tension.

[@viktorias63]

@@nolanlewis538 is that Russia invaded Chechnya, Degestan, Moldova and Gorgia?

[@oscccar1]

I would really like to know more about the culture war inside the conflict!

[@Ralphieboy]

I was in Russia in 1992-93, and the sudden and complete privatization was a disaster. They could have done it in stages and privatized the means of consumption first: restaurants, consumer goods and small businesses first, then followed by consumer-based industries, but keeping the key industries in government hands: heavy industries and raw materials (oil, gas, coal, ore, iron and steel, energy generation, central banking) for at least two or three generations so that people could get used to the concept of entrepreneurialism.

[@Tenebraeification]

This privatization disaster reminds me of what happened to Mexico as it was preparing to join NAFTA. Without their ability to safeguard their state industries, the Americans practically flooded Mexican markets and flatlined many companies. The Oligarchs then took their pound of flesh as they began taking control of the newly privatized industries.

[@Ralphieboy]

The notion of "shock therapy" leading to a totally free economy in 500 days was perverse. Most people there had never been exposed to any sort of free market or entrepreneurialism and had little or no idea how to cope with it.

[@lostonearth7856]

Can you maybe do a video on the Helsinki Accords explaining it?

[@huey13player]

Could you give a list of books you think would be good to read up on to be better informed with historical context.

[@Uberdude6666]

best title of a video ever

[@aeiro5390]

Can you add captions please?

[@thecanadian6022]

Great video! Love your channel, as someone who has lived in Eastern Europe for a year it's great to learn about the history of the cold war and the soviet union. I'd love to see a video covering the underground punk and music era of the late 80's. Or maybe a video on the gangs within the soviet union, maybe cover Odessa, I think that history is about to become very relevant.

[@raymondperez5776]

Is that Irvine from the Caspian report?

[@ciripa]

I wanna see Nolan the man behind this channel with David on a live, talking about this with the viewrs!!

[@donnyboon2896]

Yes.

[@jordanreeseyre]

I speculate that NATO is an important factor in the mind of Putin. While I don't think it realistically poses a threat to Russia itself, Putin appears to consider NATO a threat to Russia exercising control over its neighbours. Geographically, the addition of Ukraine to NATO would have massively expanded the potential front southwards of the North European Plain in a hypothetical war with NATO. While Putin likely does not consider a NATO attack a realistic prospect, a Ukraine given the protection necessary to confidently defy Russian political pressure is probably seen as the worst outcome.

[@derrickthewhite1]

NATO _IS_ a threat to Russia Exercising control of its neighbors. I can't say I disagree with it doing so, but the fact is that NATO's purpose is to protect European countries in the western sphere of influence from invasion from other powers, with the most likely by far being Russia. Of course, it doesn't sound quite as urgent when you phrase it as "preventing me from controlling my neighbors"

[@jordanreeseyre]

@@derrickthewhite1 Don't forget Russia's declining population & discovery of gas off the shore of Crimea. These two things likely lead to a sense of urgency in the mind of Putin. Just like how aggressors in WWII felt the military option was on the clock.

[@hjalmar4565]

@@jordanreeseyre No, Russia wants to reclaim their lost land and it's their strategy since the fall of the USSR. What Russia does is starting small local wars in those countries with pro-Russian rebels to destabilized those countries, putting "peace keepers" in those regions and block them to join the EU or NATO. For Ukraine this first step was in 2014 and now it was time for the second fase, to bring Ukraine back into Russian influence like Belarus. The third step is to let them "join" the Russian federation, like they did with Crimea and Putin doesn't keep it a secret that this is the goal for Belarus too. This strategy started well before NATO's first expension in Moldova (1992), Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine. The Baltic states saw this coming and joined NATO as soon as they could to be safe from Russia. NATO, as a defensive alliance, won't attack Russia itself and Putin knows this, but it can block Russia's strategy by letting those countries join NATO.

[@hitsuji4555]

This just didn't age well, I guess. That catastrophyc prediction about the impact of the sanctions never materialized. Specially due to the strenghtening of relations with countries such as China, the ruble is back to the original levels as before the incursion in Ukraine. And as thought 80% of the multinationals left the country, some just made a rebranding, in practice, and are still functioning. The jobs are still there.

[@hitsuji4555]

Some hyperbolic language seem to have been used as well. I mean, deeming last year’s sanctions the toughest and most incisive ones in History? What about the Treaty of Versailles, for example? I guess they are not being considered sanctions, for some reason? Just want to state that i am not trying to be a dick. I love the channel and I thank David and everyone involved a lot, for they teached me a lot during the hours i spend watching this wonderful channel

[@helloworld0609]

George Kennan on NATO Expansion in an article in NYTimes 1997: “Bluntly stated…expanding NATO would be the most fateful error of American policy in the entire post-Cold War era. Such a decision may be expected to inflame the nationalistic, anti-Western and militaristic tendencies in Russian opinion; to have an adverse effect on the development of Russian democracy; to restore the atmosphere of the cold war to East-West relations, and to impel Russian foreign policy in directions decidedly not to our liking … ”

[@crabyman3555]

''to have an adverse effect on the development of Russian democracy'' - lol Putin never wanted democracy in Russia to begin with, the idea that some outside influence was what caused Russia to be not-democratic is just naivety. Russian leaders themselves caused it, lets not make excuses here. Oh and Russia was plenty nationalistic and anti-Western as well, even in 1990's. NATO didnt cause it, there were plenty of old Soviet crabs who wanted nothing more but to see dead Americans under their boots even back then.

[@helloworld0609]

@@crabyman3555 Putin was not Russia president in 1997. And Georgia Kennan was not an average Georgia.

[@CZpersi]

When Russia/Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, the country was a loyal and faithful Warsaw Pact member. Yet it was still invaded. As said in the video, if there was no NATO, Russia would find a different pretext.

[@RTDice11]

Incredible amount of knowledge off the cuff! Great discussion

[@TunaErciyas]

"I think these are the harshest sanctions that has ever been emposed on a country in history" I would like to inquire, do you also include North Korea to your consideration? If yes I would very much appeciate a comparrison.

[@zoranbeader6441]

The number of individual sanctions imposed against Russia is greater than against North Korea. Thus the "harshest sanctions". Obviously, there can be no comparison of the impact of sanctions, Russia has had sanctions for a month, North Korea for more than 50 years.

[@MrNicoJac]

North Korea did not have its central bank's assets seized abroad, did it? The West is _literally_ making up new laws so they can _steal_ Russia's money and put it into a Rebuild Ukraine fund. Now, under the circumstances, I'd say that doing so is (much) more moral than letting Russia use its own money. But it also sets a _very_ scary precedent! It essentially undermines the entire system that determines currency exchange rates. Which international finance has been built upon since the colonial/industrial eras...! Although we totally cannot see any of them today, this development will likely have _massive_ consequences further down the line. I, for one, am _very_ curious to see how China (and all other nations that are not aligned with the West) will respond over the next few years.

[@lashlarue7924]

@@zoranbeader6441 👆THIS.

[@abcdedfg8340]

@@zoranbeader6441 Its just starting. As long as enough good russians dont do enough to stop Putins aggression, the whole country will possibly suffer. I feel many Russians need to reflect more on the local and global impact of their government's actions, and understand they may need to start taking real responsibility to stop excesses, like we do in the west. They had easy chances years ago, but they missed it by not doing enough, now they may have to take the hard road (although not as hard as the communist dictatorships in eastern europe) to stop this lunacy.

[@gazpacho1234]

I just hope the political appointees and relevent brass at the Pentagon learn lessons from the Russian military, in the last three US wars there were increasingly shockingly shoddy levels of equipment that is highly maintained or just plain under-equipped soldiers or shortages in some basic supplies and ammunition reserve and iffy supply issues. The problem with US inefficiency (due to a lack of meaningful oversight and corporate greed and authority-complex superioritism) can parallel in a much minor but significant way, those of Russia, but instead of corruption and a siphoning off of funds going into individuals pockets down many lines, the Pentagon wastes or overspends more money on significantly over-sold 'pet project' 'flashy big label items' at the expense of tried and true or innovative-yet-inexpensive priorities than two-thirds of the nation's in the world spend on their entire military and police combined. It never ceases to amaze me how American culture and politics cannot touch Pentagon or intelligence-agency or related-corporate monetary-abuse and efficiency-abuse, but at the drop of a feather will rush head-over-heels into national scandal over any comparatively-microscopic abuse of funds or efficiency in almost any other branch or department of local or federal government. No doubt the Pentagon and White House will get erroneously blamed (by whatever opposing political-party) for military and humanitarian supplies and other funding that gets siphoned off by corruption in Ukraine (endemic massive corruption in Ukraine, and it's intergenerational sub-culture, has not totally disappeared in a mere seven years just because of reformist governments).

[@andreylucass]

Cuba and North Korea (and maybe Iran) were more sanctioned.

[@andreylucass]

Loved your last sentence. But I wouldn't care if you were given the questions before, it actually could be even better with sources and without hesitation and too many doubts and pauses.

[@zulubeatz1]

I have to say, I think this guy is spot on in his assessment.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

Probably the harshest sanctions ever imposed was during WW1 where the Royal Navy blockade starved Germany into submission. I think the sanctions against Iraq is also pretty high on the list, considering how many people died from being deprived of medical supply imports etc.

[@howilearned2stopworrying508]

lots of mines in the Donbass - including Titanium - valuable stuff.

[@ImpalerVladTepes]

I'd be a little careful with the FSB bombing story. It's incredibly similar to the idea that "FDR did Pearl Harbor" or "Bush did 9/11", especially in the sense that while doing so technically aligned with the leaders' geopolitical goals, that's only true if you don't look too closely. The apartment bombing in question was far from the only one carried out by the Chechen separatists, and as someone who lived in Russia during the 90s and kept in contact with people there after I left, I can tell you that the general public's attitude about the Chechen war was similar to the attitude in the US right after 9/11. Did the FSB bomb that apartment building? Maybe, but for my money it doesn't make much sense.

[@lukasj1980]

Even the russian news reported on it and the FSB said it was an excercise, but thats unlikely

[@ImpalerVladTepes]

@@lukasj1980 So the foiled attack on an apartment block in Ryazan was admitted to as being a training exercise: the other attacks were not, and fit the MO of Dagestani-based terrorist groups from that time.

[@JustMe-tu5qc]

I guess there is only one question that all of us have to answer. Was the cold war ever ended? Has that many things actually being changed after 1991? Has the Iron curtain ever went down,? Or was it actually just drawn back for a while, so that both sides had the chance to get a short glimpse on one another? Judging from the brutality and destruction raged upon Ukraine, it seems that Moustache and his tactics have been reincarnated and the cold war is actually still raging. Or even worse, the power struggle scarily resembles pre-WW2 era, so maybe we are back in time, and the Cold War, Take #2, is just about to start. Excellent work, keep it up 👍

[@mikemodugno5879]

I really appreciate these videos shedding light on this complex topic. The host's ability to admit his limitations and opinions lends itself well to the discussion. Thank you

[@rkak15]

Yo this dude is like Cold War Fantano.

[@raceace]

Great honest nuanced interview.

[@Keefan1978]

Very interesting, thanks! I think one shouldn't also forget the fact, that Putin is also a very strong so-called theory-man - geopolitical and philosophical ideas play a very important role in his thinking. He seems to have built a theoretical construction out of Mackinder, Haushofer, Ivan Ilyin and other similar thinkers ideas in his mind and is now trying to reshape the world according to this concept.

[@folktai7070]

Can you give us scenario if nato or in decided to intervene?

[@johntreat8893]

This was a really interesting video. My proffessor talked about Dugin and Ilyin and how they might have an influence on putin and his military elites. She thinks Eurasianism has a bigger pull on the Russians than most people realize.

[@Paulius-lb4ng]

Dugin does not even personally know Putin at all, it just helps to sell his books and his genocidal propaganda towards Ukrainians, he’s a neo-fascist and an intellectual clown.

[@travezripley]

Love the insight from your channel. Can we talk more on Euronasionism? Alexsander Dugin?

[@ZeroCGR2]

Where does it go from here? I hope it will end soon.

[@lisajaynelewis]

I wonder if you might consider making a video discussing the cultural similarities and differences between Russian and Ukraine such as shared sports, arts & musical culture. I think it would be good to understand a little more about how these two beautiful cultures are so intertwined outside of the political arena.

[@viktorias63]

I can tell you, Russia occupied Ukraine several times, forced their language, culture and Church on us. They killed millions or Ukrainians through starvation, deportations and killing of intelligencia. Then telhey replaced us with Russians to Russofy our cities. After the fall of USSR, they culturally occupied with Russian music and language everywhere, until things started to change in 2014

[@viktorias63]

And I would not call Russian culture beautiful. Call me bias, but nothing is beautiful about the never ending emperalism and land grab that hasn't stopped for centuries to this day. Russians bring nothing but suffering and death.

[@yeshhw8426]

the royalty free music in the background is distracting

[@toplalp]

I want more of this. This is amazing concept.

[@jeylonblake3407]

I believe he’s giving this analysis from a moral point of view and one has to understand when you’re a permanent member of the UNSC with nuclear weapons morals need not apply in diplomatic terms at least.

[@matthewryan7775]

Thanks for putting these out. Hot takes could be a new format for this channel. I kind of believe Zelensky when he says if Donbass decides to leave in a referendum, he would abide by it. Other than that I expect a return to pre-2014 borders.

[@castor3020]

Agreed, though you have to remember that a liar (Putin) thinks everyone else is lying too and wont trust anyone or anything.

[@viktorias63]

Nobody in their right mind thinks these fake referendums are legit

[@matthewryan7775]

@@viktorias63 This was about a post-victory referendum

[@tengizpimpashvili1311]

Since this video has been posted the ruble has been going up every day

[@_vallee_5190]

The Russian economy has not actually been affected by sanctions yet, in fact in the short term the Ruble somehow hit a 5 year high.