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APPLEBAUM: Kushner and Witkoff didn’t understand Putin. They don’t really know the geography of Ukraine. They were seen by Russians, and really by everybody, as incompetents who were bumbling along. Russians thought, "Well, we can rip these people off, and win the war that way."

Kate from Kharkiv

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30,634 views • 1 month ago •via X (Twitter)

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TAYLOR: Kushner and Witkoff don’t really understand the war between Russia and Ukraine. They know very little about Ukraine, they are just pushing Russian line on Ukrainians, and talking about a “win-win.” I mean, how can Russians be given any kind of “win” for invading Ukraine?

TAYLOR: Kushner and Witkoff don’t really understand the war between Russia and Ukraine. They know very little about Ukraine, they are just pushing Russian line on Ukrainians, and talking about a “win-win.” I mean, how can Russians be given any kind of “win” for invading Ukraine?

Kate from Kharkiv

49,502 views • 24 days ago

APPLEBAUM: The war in Ukraine is really fault line between democratic and autocratic worlds. Russians are trying to destroy Ukraine as a nation, they want it to disappear. As an empire, they want Ukraine to be their colony. And they understood perfectly well that by invading Ukraine, they were defying this liberal world order. They were defying the rules of post-war Europe, because in post-war Europe decision was made after 1945: we are not going to invade each other anymore, we are not going to have wars. Instead, we are going to decide everything by diplomacy, and borders will not be changed by force. And Russians understood they were breaking that norm when they invaded Ukraine. They also invaded Ukraine because Ukrainians were using that powerful democratic language we take for granted. Putin said, “If they can do it in Ukraine, then people could do it in Russia. So, I need to crush this Ukrainian democracy movement.”

APPLEBAUM: The war in Ukraine is really fault line between democratic and autocratic worlds. Russians are trying to destroy Ukraine as a nation, they want it to disappear. As an empire, they want Ukraine to be their colony. And they understood perfectly well that by invading Ukraine, they were defying this liberal world order. They were defying the rules of post-war Europe, because in post-war Europe decision was made after 1945: we are not going to invade each other anymore, we are not going to have wars. Instead, we are going to decide everything by diplomacy, and borders will not be changed by force. And Russians understood they were breaking that norm when they invaded Ukraine. They also invaded Ukraine because Ukrainians were using that powerful democratic language we take for granted. Putin said, “If they can do it in Ukraine, then people could do it in Russia. So, I need to crush this Ukrainian democracy movement.”

Kate from Kharkiv

109,562 views • 4 months ago

Applebaum: Witkoff and Kushner prolonged war in Ukraine. Their approach was flying to Moscow to cut deals with Russian companies. The Russians offered them deals in the Arctic and minerals, and came away thinking Americans were on their side. 1/

Applebaum: Witkoff and Kushner prolonged war in Ukraine. Their approach was flying to Moscow to cut deals with Russian companies. The Russians offered them deals in the Arctic and minerals, and came away thinking Americans were on their side. 1/

Tymofiy Mylovanov

182,923 views • 2 months ago

We don't know if the Russians want to end the war. They say they do - Rubio. 99% of people know that the Russians don't want to end the war, but hey, what do we really know?

We don't know if the Russians want to end the war. They say they do - Rubio. 99% of people know that the Russians don't want to end the war, but hey, what do we really know?

Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦

101,075 views • 7 months ago

APPLEBAUM: Witkoff and Kushner had a pretty profound effect on how peace negotiations been conducted, and it’s not positive. They prolonged war in Ukraine because their attitude was, "We’re going to Moscow to do deals with Russian companies." Russians were delighted by this, we know that they were offering them stuff in the Arctic, minerals, and so on. They even told European allies, "Be prepared, because this is what they’re doing." This has been in the newspapers, it’s not a secret. Witkoff and Kushner gave Russians impression that Americans were on their side, that they could somehow buy Trump administration. That they would eventually defeat Ukraine with the help of United States. And this war has an important psychological element. It’s over when Russians stop fighting and say, "We can’t defeat Ukraine. Ukraine’s not going to become part of Russia. We stop fighting, have a ceasefire, or begin to negotiate." But Americans put sort of new life into belief that Russians would win the war militarily, that Ukraine would eventually fall. It didn’t happen, mostly because of Ukrainian ingenuity, this real reinvention of modern warfare with drones. It didn’t fall because European countries stepped up to the plate and began funding Ukrainian war effort and Ukrainian economy. You have now this so-called coalition of the willing, which includes most countries in Europe, plus few others. And they’ve kept Ukrainians fighting. And Ukrainians have been holding the line for some months now.

APPLEBAUM: Witkoff and Kushner had a pretty profound effect on how peace negotiations been conducted, and it’s not positive. They prolonged war in Ukraine because their attitude was, "We’re going to Moscow to do deals with Russian companies." Russians were delighted by this, we know that they were offering them stuff in the Arctic, minerals, and so on. They even told European allies, "Be prepared, because this is what they’re doing." This has been in the newspapers, it’s not a secret. Witkoff and Kushner gave Russians impression that Americans were on their side, that they could somehow buy Trump administration. That they would eventually defeat Ukraine with the help of United States. And this war has an important psychological element. It’s over when Russians stop fighting and say, "We can’t defeat Ukraine. Ukraine’s not going to become part of Russia. We stop fighting, have a ceasefire, or begin to negotiate." But Americans put sort of new life into belief that Russians would win the war militarily, that Ukraine would eventually fall. It didn’t happen, mostly because of Ukrainian ingenuity, this real reinvention of modern warfare with drones. It didn’t fall because European countries stepped up to the plate and began funding Ukrainian war effort and Ukrainian economy. You have now this so-called coalition of the willing, which includes most countries in Europe, plus few others. And they’ve kept Ukrainians fighting. And Ukrainians have been holding the line for some months now.

Kate from Kharkiv

35,016 views • 1 month ago

Tucker Carlson: Do you think the Russians want to march across Europe? Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff: “100% not… why would they want to absorb Ukraine? For what purpose? They don’t need to absorb Ukraine..” (The Russians currently occupy more than 20% of Ukraine and attempted to capture Kyiv at the beginning of the war but were repelled by the Ukrainian army.)

Tucker Carlson: Do you think the Russians want to march across Europe? Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff: “100% not… why would they want to absorb Ukraine? For what purpose? They don’t need to absorb Ukraine..” (The Russians currently occupy more than 20% of Ukraine and attempted to capture Kyiv at the beginning of the war but were repelled by the Ukrainian army.)

Republicans against Trump

559,664 views • 1 year ago

APPLEBAUM: We don't know how widely those spectacular pictures of burning oil really circulate inside Russia, but even to extent that they do they're pretty clear proof that Russians aren't safe, haven't defeated Ukraine, war is still going and Russians paying high price for it.

APPLEBAUM: We don't know how widely those spectacular pictures of burning oil really circulate inside Russia, but even to extent that they do they're pretty clear proof that Russians aren't safe, haven't defeated Ukraine, war is still going and Russians paying high price for it.

Kate from Kharkiv

25,733 views • 2 months ago

Former Trump Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg: I think the people talking about business deals with the Russians are behaving foolishly. Putin has imposed his view of the world on them. I wish they would take a step back and understand reality. They’re hoping — you know, I’d like to drive a Maserati, but I don’t, and probably never will. And he tells them, "We’ll give you a Maserati." And they believe him. I think some of these negotiators are behaving foolishly. They really don’t understand who they’re dealing with, and they don’t understand the Ukrainians.

Former Trump Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg: I think the people talking about business deals with the Russians are behaving foolishly. Putin has imposed his view of the world on them. I wish they would take a step back and understand reality. They’re hoping — you know, I’d like to drive a Maserati, but I don’t, and probably never will. And he tells them, "We’ll give you a Maserati." And they believe him. I think some of these negotiators are behaving foolishly. They really don’t understand who they’re dealing with, and they don’t understand the Ukrainians.

Clash Report

27,344 views • 1 month ago

ZELENSKYY: Witkoff and Kushner are pragmatic guys. We’re having good, constructive talks with them. The only problem is that they believe the Russians will win this war. However, they are mistaken. This isn’t the first time Americans have been wrong about Russians.

ZELENSKYY: Witkoff and Kushner are pragmatic guys. We’re having good, constructive talks with them. The only problem is that they believe the Russians will win this war. However, they are mistaken. This isn’t the first time Americans have been wrong about Russians.

Kate from Kharkiv

389,982 views • 5 months ago

APPLEBAUM: Trump is using tools of American power to enrich himself and his family. That's real, profound abuse of American power. For example, when Witkoff and Kushner were negotiating with Russians over war in Ukraine, they weren't negotiating on behalf of America. They weren't negotiating in order to bring security to Europe, which is America's strongest ally, where lot of American companies do business. They weren't negotiating on behalf of Ukrainian people, who have been, objectively speaking, the victims of horrific attacks. They were negotiating in order to do business deals for maybe companies associated with them, but certainly other American companies. And they were talking directly to Russians who were promising them mineral deals and oil and gas deals.

APPLEBAUM: Trump is using tools of American power to enrich himself and his family. That's real, profound abuse of American power. For example, when Witkoff and Kushner were negotiating with Russians over war in Ukraine, they weren't negotiating on behalf of America. They weren't negotiating in order to bring security to Europe, which is America's strongest ally, where lot of American companies do business. They weren't negotiating on behalf of Ukrainian people, who have been, objectively speaking, the victims of horrific attacks. They were negotiating in order to do business deals for maybe companies associated with them, but certainly other American companies. And they were talking directly to Russians who were promising them mineral deals and oil and gas deals.

Kate from Kharkiv

50,374 views • 2 months ago

Former Amb. to Ukraine, William Taylor: Putin can't break Ukraine’s will. He’s tried for 4 years. They don’t show signs of breaking. Soldiers, civilians, people in and out of government know that if they lose, there’s no Ukraine. They have to win and stop the Russians. 1/

Former Amb. to Ukraine, William Taylor: Putin can't break Ukraine’s will. He’s tried for 4 years. They don’t show signs of breaking. Soldiers, civilians, people in and out of government know that if they lose, there’s no Ukraine. They have to win and stop the Russians. 1/

Tymofiy Mylovanov

24,533 views • 7 months ago

Professor John Mearsheimer: We’re not winning against Iran. We’re not winning. We’re sending a message that we’re a bunch of fools. That we started a war we can’t win. We didn’t have the required military forces to achieve any of the objectives that we were floating, and we had no plan. What does this tell the Chinese and what does it tell the Russians? It tells them that we are incompetent. Of course the Russians have had enough dealings with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to fully understand just how incompetent we are.

Professor John Mearsheimer: We’re not winning against Iran. We’re not winning. We’re sending a message that we’re a bunch of fools. That we started a war we can’t win. We didn’t have the required military forces to achieve any of the objectives that we were floating, and we had no plan. What does this tell the Chinese and what does it tell the Russians? It tells them that we are incompetent. Of course the Russians have had enough dealings with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to fully understand just how incompetent we are.

Clash Report

840,346 views • 6 months ago

APPLEBAUM: Trump is not somebody who really thinks strategically, and he reacts to whatever makes him feel, in a given moment, like he's the winner. I think Russians probably cultivate that. Russians have also been offering Trump and business people close to Trump some kind of business deal after war in Ukraine ends, if they can end it in a way that's advantageous to Russia. So, Russians are anxious to cultivate Trump in order to make that happen.

APPLEBAUM: Trump is not somebody who really thinks strategically, and he reacts to whatever makes him feel, in a given moment, like he's the winner. I think Russians probably cultivate that. Russians have also been offering Trump and business people close to Trump some kind of business deal after war in Ukraine ends, if they can end it in a way that's advantageous to Russia. So, Russians are anxious to cultivate Trump in order to make that happen.

Kate from Kharkiv

57,084 views • 3 months ago

ROSENBERG: Wherever we go in Russia now, people say "we hope war will be over," and they do use the word "war." Officially it's still "special military operation," but most Russians call it "war" because when they switch on their television sets, they see war. Few years ago, when I used to ask Russian people on the streets in what ways they were affected by the war, a lot of them said, "Well, we're not affected by the war, it's something on our television sets." But now, you certainly feel that Russians are feeling the effects of the war more than ever. A lot of them know others who've been fighting in Ukraine, who've been getting injured or killed. And Russians are feeling economic effects more and more because of more than four years of international sanctions. And latest polling here in Russia suggests that approximately two-thirds of Russians would like peace talks rather than continuation of the war.

ROSENBERG: Wherever we go in Russia now, people say "we hope war will be over," and they do use the word "war." Officially it's still "special military operation," but most Russians call it "war" because when they switch on their television sets, they see war. Few years ago, when I used to ask Russian people on the streets in what ways they were affected by the war, a lot of them said, "Well, we're not affected by the war, it's something on our television sets." But now, you certainly feel that Russians are feeling the effects of the war more than ever. A lot of them know others who've been fighting in Ukraine, who've been getting injured or killed. And Russians are feeling economic effects more and more because of more than four years of international sanctions. And latest polling here in Russia suggests that approximately two-thirds of Russians would like peace talks rather than continuation of the war.

Kate from Kharkiv

177,747 views • 3 months ago

Russians stopped at a café in Georgia, where a sign on the door reads: "By entering our restaurant you agree that Putin is a war criminal and respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova." They didn't know "what to make of it" and thought it was a joke.

Russians stopped at a café in Georgia, where a sign on the door reads: "By entering our restaurant you agree that Putin is a war criminal and respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova." They didn't know "what to make of it" and thought it was a joke.

Anton Gerashchenko

210,634 views • 2 months ago

APPLEBAUM: I think Trump genuinely believed that he was friends with Putin, and that that’s how he would bring the war to an end. Trump was very surprised to learn that Russians have different set of interests, bigger than him, that he wasn’t able to influence Putin. So I think it’s fair to say it’s pretty clear that Trump doesn’t understand or know Russia, or Putin, very well. And unfortunately, negotiations that Trump conducted with Russians in first part of his term were very counterproductive. They gave Russians idea that Americans would let them keep fighting, would get Ukrainians to give up their territory. Putin was never seriously interested in ending the war. We’ve never seen any sign that he’s willing to accept ceasefire. If Trump had come to power and said, “I’m going to continue to support Ukraine, I want Ukraine to win the war.” Then this war might be over by now, because this war will be over when Russians understand that they can’t win. When Russians finally understand that Ukraine will not become a Russian colony, and that it’s not worth fighting. Most colonial wars last about 10 years. Whether you think this started in 2014 or 2022, you could be optimistic or pessimistic. It’s also true that most colonial wars are eventually ended not by the person who started them. Algeria is a good example. Most colonial wars also end with turmoil in capital. Once you understand it’s colonial war, then you know what’s at stake.

APPLEBAUM: I think Trump genuinely believed that he was friends with Putin, and that that’s how he would bring the war to an end. Trump was very surprised to learn that Russians have different set of interests, bigger than him, that he wasn’t able to influence Putin. So I think it’s fair to say it’s pretty clear that Trump doesn’t understand or know Russia, or Putin, very well. And unfortunately, negotiations that Trump conducted with Russians in first part of his term were very counterproductive. They gave Russians idea that Americans would let them keep fighting, would get Ukrainians to give up their territory. Putin was never seriously interested in ending the war. We’ve never seen any sign that he’s willing to accept ceasefire. If Trump had come to power and said, “I’m going to continue to support Ukraine, I want Ukraine to win the war.” Then this war might be over by now, because this war will be over when Russians understand that they can’t win. When Russians finally understand that Ukraine will not become a Russian colony, and that it’s not worth fighting. Most colonial wars last about 10 years. Whether you think this started in 2014 or 2022, you could be optimistic or pessimistic. It’s also true that most colonial wars are eventually ended not by the person who started them. Algeria is a good example. Most colonial wars also end with turmoil in capital. Once you understand it’s colonial war, then you know what’s at stake.

Kate from Kharkiv

171,620 views • 1 month ago

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺 “The path to peace is through convincing Putin that he won’t win the war, that it’s hopeless.” — Applebaum -> They don’t want to win the war, but convince Putin that he will not win They want to gaslight Putin and flood everything with propaganda to pretend they can win

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺 “The path to peace is through convincing Putin that he won’t win the war, that it’s hopeless.” — Applebaum -> They don’t want to win the war, but convince Putin that he will not win They want to gaslight Putin and flood everything with propaganda to pretend they can win

Lord Bebo

97,706 views • 1 year ago

Why Putin is so popular in Russia: Already at his inauguration, he expressed the sentiment that many Russians know. Show a moment of weakness and the enemy will force you to your knees. Time and again, Russians have seen how true this is in their history. In the West, they refuse to understand this feeling. They simply don't take Russians seriously, or attribute motives to them that they don't have. And then it's war. Because Russians don't bend. It is a proud people.

Why Putin is so popular in Russia: Already at his inauguration, he expressed the sentiment that many Russians know. Show a moment of weakness and the enemy will force you to your knees. Time and again, Russians have seen how true this is in their history. In the West, they refuse to understand this feeling. They simply don't take Russians seriously, or attribute motives to them that they don't have. And then it's war. Because Russians don't bend. It is a proud people.

Richard

79,687 views • 9 months ago