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Putin and the Presidents: Marie Yovanovitch (interview) | FRONTLINE

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  • Published on Jan 31, 2023 veröffentlicht
  • Marie Yovanovitch served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 to 2019. She has also served as an ambassador to the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic. Yovanovitch is currently a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
    The following interview was conducted by the Kirk Documentary Group’s Michael Wiser for FRONTLINE on Sept. 28, 2022. It has been edited for clarity and length.
    This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
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Comments • 2 072

  • Charles Somerset
    Charles Somerset 2 months ago +9

    Listening to Yovanovich and Loffe in these expanded interviews has done more to educate me about Ukraine and Russia than a thousand soundbites from the large networks.

    • RacoonFrenzy
      RacoonFrenzy 2 months ago

      Then you'd love the Timothy Snyder interviews at least as much

  • Tania Parkhomenko
    Tania Parkhomenko 3 months ago +230

    I like how people bring up the 90s as such a "traumatic experience" for russians that they had no other choice but hate the West. The 90s happened to all former soviet and some Warsaw Pact countries. Look up pictures of Polish cities at that time - same misery, homeless kids and broke grandmas. Ukraine had an even worse time, because we did not inherit all the oil and gas to help fund a recovery, and did not receive as much foreign aid as Russia did at the time. And yet, all these other countries found a way to deal with the "trauma of the 90s" without invading anybody every 7-10 years.

    • Cookswithfire
      Cookswithfire 3 months ago +38

      I have never seen a ladder with all top rungs only. Every ladder starts with a bottom rung and progresses accordingly. How many rungs you climb determines how high you’ll go up the ladder. The hard work of former Soviet countries has been and will be rewarded for their hard and continuous climb. There’s no other way to success. Just do the work.
      Russia, however, has refused to do the work. And they’ll continue to suffer the consequences.

    • Persephone
      Persephone 3 months ago +23

      @Cookswithfire Well said... TY for pointing out the obvious!!!
      It's worth mentioning that Russia's monumental corruption and kleptocracy is also a major contributing factor...

    • Ian Worley
      Ian Worley 3 months ago +13

      I've never considered that, but now you mention it, that's so obvious. Thank you.

    • Prabuddha Ghosh
      Prabuddha Ghosh 3 months ago +11

      Ex Soviet Republics and Eastern European countries were subsidized with cheap Russian oil and gas from the 70s onwards. When they lost the cheap oil when Russian oil privatized, these countries suffered. Russia suffered despite natural riches as the privatization was done haphazardly and state assets handed over to oligarchs who proceeded to loot the country and move their ill gotten gains into London, New York and Zurich. Putin slowly cracked on the oligarchs and got back the nations wealth. At the same time he tried to buy influence in ex USSR and ex Warsaw pact countries by restoring the subsidized oil. Yet these countries chose market integration with EU over subsidized oil. Ukraine is a prime example. Russia gave super cheap oil to Ukraine to persuade them to join the Eurasian Union. Yanukovich even decided to pursue the Eurasian Union instead of European Union. But then we know what happened. The competition moved from economics and diplomacy to force and violence.

    • Cythil
      Cythil 3 months ago +11

      There is something to it, that the bigger they are, the harder they fall. It was pretty clear that Russia was the lead Republic in USSR. Having far greater influence and in general getting more of the resources. Especially the more central parts of Russia, such as Moscow and Leningrad (Now Saint Petersburg). And it was a Traumatic experience. But is not something the west should be blamed for. At least not alone. Since that was a lot of Russia's own making. And a lot of former USSR republics had a lot worse (and still have it worse).
      Could the west have handled it better? Yeah. Especially those who naively thought forcing tough Capitalism at any cost would solve all issues. No matter the corruption. No matter the sacrifices to democracy. But that was not just a western idea. That was an idea that exist in Russia itself. Before Yeltsin was mainly known for his drinking problem, he was this roughless enforce of this transition that both step on people democracy and lead to more corruption. His alcoholism was a problem. But it was not truly the character flaw the defined him. As much people like to blame it. Remember. It was Yeltsin that put Putin in power.
      We can also see this with Russia. Russia was not taking over by foreign billionaire from the west. It was taken over by its own billionaire from it own ranks. Often people who had power in the old USSR order. Yes. They were inspired by "western" ideas of "free market" capitalism. There were some western economic advisors. But it is often the same men who now planned this insane war to rebuild a Russian Empire that took those ideas to heart. The Oligarchs that are so close to Putin.
      So while I am ready to say that the ideology that drove the transition of Russia after the collapse of the USSR was increasable damaging, it a ideology that is still embraced by the leadership. They have had bad teachers, but the exploitation was all done by themselves. And the leadership they have now do not even see this exploitation as something wrong. The one thing the leadership seem to dislike is how they're treated as lesser. But problem here is that USSR used to be feared and treated as higher respect. While Russia was treated as an equal. But they were so used to the Royal treatment, even back when it was the Russian Empire, that such an equal status treatment was seen as lowered respect. When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. (Now, USA tend to treat everyone as lesser. Even when then that was not their intent. That is it own little issue. But the solution to that is not to have more nations acting like the USA in the world. But bring down USA one peg by sticking together. It is actually harder to be the bully if you're the only one and everyone else are equal. But if you establish a hierarchy then everyone can be a bully, except the ones at the bottom, and so the hierarchy can kept reinforced even by the one just one step above the bottom even if they are victims too)
      And I have to say. A lot of Russians who are just everyday people do not seem to hate the west at all. Most want to just live their lives and let others live theirs. This was not a grassroots movement to go to war with Ukraine. If anything, the general public greatest flaw is that they are pretty apathetic, with a tint of fear for authority. And that is just how the leadership in Moscow wants it. They want people unengaged in politics and just leave it to the leadership.

  • Carol Utley
    Carol Utley 4 months ago +79

    Of course, Trump fired this woman. Her integrity and intelligence shine through. Not his type. Great interview 👍

  • Pavel G
    Pavel G 4 months ago +119

    As a Russian I want to add one thing to this brilliant synopsis: the humanitarian trauma of the 1990s is merely a talking point to Putin, at the time as a deputy mayor of St. Petersburg he oversaw the local «food for oil » program in such a way that oil payments were received by his sham companies but the western food never made it to the babushki… (this was investigated at the time by the ethics committee led by Marina Salier (googlable) who had to hide in a cabin in the woods for the rest of her life once Putin advanced his carrier). The world should never forget that Putin is not a statesman, he is cleptocrat. He went too far in his crimes against Russia, that he robbed himself of an exit strategy. He needs power to survive. It’s also important to remember that for over 22 years there’s been a history of Russian resistance to this psychopath with a little man complex, and it continues. The west should not worry, in pragmatic terms, of Russia going into permanent chaos without Putin, we will be fine, there is a civic society in Russia. We are all allies in this - one thing to do - arm Ukraine asap, tanks, fighter jets, overwhelming force to save human life - civilians, Ukrainian troops and even my brainwashed or illegally mobilized countrymen.

    • Persephone
      Persephone 4 months ago +9

      @Pavel G: 👍👍👍

    • Terry James
      Terry James 4 months ago +23

      Your reference to Putin stealing money in St Petersburg was broadcast on Frontline on American TV years ago. More people should know this. Thanks.

    • Nils Larson
      Nils Larson 4 months ago +1

      interesting comment . unlike honest leaders like for instance former US president . Obviously you feel that Ukraine or for that matter the west has not been part in bringing it to this point. Poland as well. I just hope that this will end soon and relations with Russia can develop in a positive and consistent direction without being hampered by other nations who do not wish to support such.

    • Terry James
      Terry James 4 months ago +16

      @Nils Larson What did the Ukraine do to threaten Russia? Nothing.

  • Edward Creegan
    Edward Creegan 4 months ago +155

    These PBS interviews are so interesting. Could listen to them all day.

    • Miroslav Cerni
      Miroslav Cerni 4 months ago +4

      That is what they are ment to do. Propaganda

    • Little Miss Alley & Co.
      Little Miss Alley & Co. 4 months ago +20

      @Miroslav Cerni 👈 Macedonia bot farm account

    • primalamusica3
      primalamusica3 4 months ago +12

      Me too, excellent! I have listened twice to JULIA IOFFE

    • billy korg
      billy korg 4 months ago +1

      Your ears are capable with lies

  • Ms TMarie83
    Ms TMarie83 3 months ago +15

    Absolutely adored her! Such a true American hero! Her numerous testimonies were always so good! Wish we had heeded her warnings more

  • Laura
    Laura 4 months ago +60

    She is a great and intelligent woman. We could use more like her in our government. ❤️💯

    • J S
      J S 4 months ago +2

      Intelligent doesn’t mean correct

    • Michel
      Michel 4 months ago

      @J S It doesn't mean incorrect either.

    • J S
      J S 4 months ago

      @Michel no it doesn’t but in her case it does. Trump strengthened NATO and he’s the only President so far that Putin hasn’t been aggressive under, not to mention the Trump energy policies were in direct conflict to Putin’s interest - so her characterization of Putin during Trump’s presidency is an outright lie.

  • Jane Gardener
    Jane Gardener 4 months ago +29

    A well-spoken, intelligent woman with an excellent assessment of Putin's character and motives. Thank you.

    • Jake Bredthauer
      Jake Bredthauer 4 months ago +2

      She is the type of person that Frontline would like to have on their program.

    • tangodaze
      tangodaze 4 months ago

      @Jake Bredthauer this is Frontline

  • yvette kuziel
    yvette kuziel 3 months ago +85

    You are on the ball! As as polish woman I can tell you Putin will not stop with Ukraine full stop! More countries need to help fight this war! That’s the way we can stop this mad men sooner rather than later!!!!

    • Prabuddha Ghosh
      Prabuddha Ghosh 3 months ago +4

      Poland should thank the Russian threat. Else given how many un democratic and racist policies Poland has adopted (eg Syrian refugees) they would have been kicked out of EU long ago. Its only the Russian threat that makes the EU hold their nose and keep countries like Poland, Hungary and Greece inside the EU.

    • Odog Gow
      Odog Gow 3 months ago +2

      and we hope he doesn't stop! We don't all want to be americanised!

    • Stormrider Kaos
      Stormrider Kaos 3 months ago +3

      @Odog Gow It's a natural progression. You want to stay 2nd World / Eastern Block? That's like here 50 years ago. I'm grateful for the [Western] opportunity to thrust the Enlightenment forward because rational thought is still the best/only avenue for us all. Later we can consider how best to organize and fine tune our societies. The Russian Model is just not the right one my friend. Peace, love and prosperity to you (in that order).

  • Mark Westphal
    Mark Westphal 4 months ago +177

    Now that's an ambassador. She answered all the questions, she gave informed insights, and she did it quietly yet firmly. I would vote for her for president.

    • Anthony Cook
      Anthony Cook 4 months ago +15

      I also liked the way she answered the questions put to her. I especially noticed that a lot of her answers started with a direct "Yes" or "No", which is refreshing (but might make her an unsuitable presidential candidate ;-) ).

    • George L
      George L 4 months ago +7

      baloney! when cross examined the will break into pieces like a glass.

    • Luke Murray
      Luke Murray 4 months ago +17

      She said Russia is saying it is a big boys world and smaller nations will just have to put up with it but yet she ignores, this is exactly what America done with Cuba and most of South America and would do it again. No nation in the Americas is allowed to have the freedom to have a military alliance with anyone outside the Americas.

    • Ricardo Thompson
      Ricardo Thompson 4 months ago +10

      @Luke Murray they don't want to talk about that lybia Syria Afghanistan samalia and the list goes on but that's not what's important once it's not coming from America its wrong but when America does the same he's the devil etc

    • hawkbartril
      hawkbartril 4 months ago +2

      @Anthony Cook do you know what the Wolfowitz Doctrine is, because you should look it up and then ask yourself if that's good for the world.

  • Gary Bowler
    Gary Bowler 4 months ago +63

    I love seeing the long form interviews it really adds alot to the over all story.

    • Laura
      Laura 4 months ago +7

      Yes. The long form is much better.

    • Rhody Report
      Rhody Report 4 months ago

      Much of what was said about Russia was factual correct, and it's been said Russia & U.S are both nation leaders!

    • Rhody Report
      Rhody Report 4 months ago +1

      Under President Trump we had no war's!!!! We had sucessful domestic prosperity, energy independent, biggest tax cuts, highest employment, and Trump did defend the U.S. , this women has an issue with Giuliani and everyone who doesn't accept her point of view!!

    • Pip Windsor
      Pip Windsor 4 months ago +1

      @Rhody Report OK. Conald. How many accounts do you have?

  • Sean_C82
    Sean_C82 3 months ago +37

    Man i just love all the extremely knowledgeable people Frontline brings on to talk.. I would like for y'all to get more people on China up on these videos please

    • Odog Gow
      Odog Gow 3 months ago

      More like dishonezt

    • Den Maskerade Daskaren
      Den Maskerade Daskaren 3 months ago +2

      @Odog Gow Back under a rock, bot.

    • Resdefy TV
      Resdefy TV 3 months ago

      @Odog Gowore like they believe they are being honest. It seems to be cognitive dissonance based on your point of view. But you can’t dismiss the statement, these are all knowledgeable people. And they all have different opinions on this series. These issues are nuanced, so people are propagating, quite eloquently, their understanding of the facts. Unfortunately, facts are fluid. Our money, travels the world, and is the root cause of many problems. And other countries follow suit. Can we, as a country, manage our money better.

  • yorkymc
    yorkymc 4 months ago +46

    Thank you to this Lady they tried to destroy her but she is still here

  • Elaine Winger
    Elaine Winger 4 months ago +25

    Mrs Yovanovitch seems to Really know her stuff!!! It's too bad Trump can't stand it when a woman is as Smart as she is and has a brain!

  • Robbie Mitchell
    Robbie Mitchell 4 months ago +88

    This interview is stunning. When the US has people such as Maria Yovanovich, why on earth did they elect a person such as Trump as President? Putin could twiddle Trump around his little finger. Furthermore, Trump prejudiced national security for his personal advancement. She has performed outstandingly. She has answered all questions forthrightly, with a deep knowledge of the subject. I listened spellbound.

    • Geoff Rohde
      Geoff Rohde 4 months ago +1

      Who did Putin get 20% of our Uranium production from? Geoff Rohde

    • Robbie Mitchell
      Robbie Mitchell 4 months ago +3

      @Geoff Rohde President Obama! Obama had a golden opportunity to intervene in Ukraine militarily, or at least to call Putin's bluff. This might sound simplistic, but when Putin gives the assurance that Russian troops are not involved, surely it opens the door for Obama to say, "well, then we are sending troops in to restore the boundaries!"

    • Little Miss Alley & Co.
      Little Miss Alley & Co. 4 months ago +2

      @Geoff Rohde 👈 Macedonia bot farm account

  • Kathleen Austin
    Kathleen Austin 4 months ago +14

    My heart breaks for Ukraine and the devastation of the villages and cities!! The needless deaths are horrible!!!

    • Marita **
      Marita ** 3 months ago +1

      Tell Biden to stop this war though.

  • Antivlog
    Antivlog 3 months ago +8

    Marie Yovanovitch is a wonderful and professional woman. I was so sorry for her when Trump fired her simply because she didn't play his crooked game.

    • Chris Hughes
      Chris Hughes 3 months ago

      agreed she is awesome - I bet she went to Bryn Mawr she used the word "fora" as plural for forum

  • SJmystic
    SJmystic 4 months ago +50

    It is a testament to Ms. Yovanovitch's character that she remains hopeful about how the U.S. can play a positive role in the world, despite the travesty of how she was treated in her role in Ukraine during the Trump administration. What happened to her shone a spotlight on the issue of bad actors/actions that were so prevalent in the Trump administration.
    I am thankful to the Frontline staff/leadership that such interviews are conducted so that we might have a fuller picture of significant events transpiring in our time, and I am appreciative of the quality of the interviewers, which is so key to helping important information be documented in these settings. 🙏

  • Johnny Tampocao
    Johnny Tampocao 4 months ago +28

    Great interview with a great topic from a very intelligent woman. I have the utmost respect to her when she confronted the Trump and stand by her principle. I enjoyed watching your interview from the former Ambassador to Ukraine as well as your interview with Julia Loffe, they are two remarkable brave women.

  • Debbie Krieger
    Debbie Krieger 4 months ago +27

    Her insight is important. She was broadsided and had no idea that Trump even knew who she was until he used her as a pawn. Her book is a “Must Read”. I learned so much about how the wealthy stripped Russia of their resources… how Oligarchy was created and how they hurt their own countries. How TRUST was uncommon within many of the countries that broke off or out of the Soviet Union. This part isn’t political. Just interesting and helpful to understand the world

    • DrumToTheBass Woop
      DrumToTheBass Woop 4 months ago +1

      Could you give me a name to the book ?

    • USBBenson
      USBBenson 4 months ago +4

      @DrumToTheBass Woop Lessons from the edge

  • Mike
    Mike 3 months ago +18

    A very knowledgeable interview, whose perspective needed to be told

  • Christian Faust
    Christian Faust 3 months ago +8

    This format about the development of Putin is excellent...I really appreciate it.

  • Mike Cambron
    Mike Cambron 4 months ago +73

    Marie Yovanovitch, Thank you for your service and for agreeing to this interview. Very informative.

    • Jake Bredthauer
      Jake Bredthauer 4 months ago +2

      Another warmonger.

    • ciusca john
      ciusca john 4 months ago

      @Jake Bredthauer I don't like her.

    • Carlette Southern-Robert
      Carlette Southern-Robert 4 months ago +6

      @ciusca john Of course you don't like her. She is way smarter and capable then you are, ciusca john.

  • randomcommenteronyoutube
    randomcommenteronyoutube 4 months ago +57

    This series brought in some of the greatest people. Outstanding.

    • Marco Silva
      Marco Silva 4 months ago +4

      Never hard about her, and honestly she said only trivial knowledge and common sense, with fairly tails as such there is a "west" almost the classical west is the best, for propaganda purposes this is good, but one hour for propaganda is too much

  • Naked Gardener OG.
    Naked Gardener OG. 4 months ago +23

    Please like and subscribe to help PBS be more recognized by the You Tube algorithm. We all need to see more of this type of balanced information... Thank You PBS.

    • Jake Bredthauer
      Jake Bredthauer 4 months ago +2

      Why does Frontline
      publish so many at one time?

  • The Zero Line
    The Zero Line 3 months ago +3

    For anyone who was paying attention, Putin’s decision was not surprising at all. Putin literally kept saying what he was going to do and Western “experts” and “politicians” kept basically saying “No, he’ll be fine.”

  • The Cat's Backyard
    The Cat's Backyard 4 months ago +7

    I have to say that this is a remarkably one sided and highly ideological interpretation. I would have loved to hear another take on this.

    • happyhappynuts
      happyhappynuts 4 months ago +3

      The whole point of this series is that it interviews many people.

    • The Cat's Backyard
      The Cat's Backyard 4 months ago +2

      @happyhappynuts Usually but this is one woman who works in the US Government.

  • KarinF Roller
    KarinF Roller 3 months ago +2

    About one point she says exactly what Bolten said in his interview. Putin speculated that Trump might get a second term, would weaken or even leave Nato. And that he might get Ukraine more easily during this second term.

    • ashok bathija
      ashok bathija Month ago

      Yes, it was at 51:53.
      And Thank God 2020 ...
      I just hope and pray for 2024 ... God bless mother Earth.

  • Waliamus
    Waliamus 4 months ago +31

    These long fomr interviews are amazing. I thank Marie Yovanovitch for her tireless service.

  • g4snk
    g4snk 4 months ago +47

    What an outstanding Ambassador! Disappointed that our Ambassador Yovanovitch was undermined.

    • Juanita Ross
      Juanita Ross 4 months ago

      Was it Yavanivich, who had her life threatened and had to leave in the middle of the night?

  • yossarian MNichols
    yossarian MNichols 4 months ago +14

    Wow, she can talk and think very fast. Why are our politicians so stupid in comparison?

    • Barb Chambers
      Barb Chambers 3 months ago +4

      Because foremost in their minds IS the politics and how to keep their power. Foremost in her mind are the policies and how to put them forward in the best interests of the country. Rather disgusted with politicians myself, find the policy doers far more interesting.

    • stephen feldmeier
      stephen feldmeier 3 months ago +2

      Well, because we Americans are stupid towards politics, thus we vote in stupid politicians. I bet 90% of the US citizens do not understand the purpose for the Constitution.

    • pSusan Westlake
      pSusan Westlake 3 months ago

      They have very different agenda.

    • CV990A
      CV990A 3 months ago +1

      I have known incredibly intelligent people who intentionally slow down conversations to ensure they have the most time to think through things. I know other people who are just slow talkers - but brilliant minds.
      But yes, she is very well spoken. It's very encouraging to realize there are people as smart as she within our diplomatic service.

  • Per Amundsson Travel
    Per Amundsson Travel 3 months ago +9

    This series of interviews is very interesting. I have listened to the interviews with John Bolton and Julia Ioffe, and just like Marie Yovanovitch they also really know what they are talking about. Thank you PBS for this great series.

  • Orctowngrot
    Orctowngrot 4 months ago +11

    It seems strange how much of what happens in the world comes down to personality (flaws) of individuals. How important integrity, accountability and WISDOM are needed in our public figures.

  • Mario Castro
    Mario Castro 3 months ago +13

    Awesome Lady! Awesome knowledge! Stay safe!

  • #YOUdon'thavetoreadthispost.

    Best series on this topic ! I am amazed by the intelligence being displayed here by true experts in their field. This wonderful individual is also an extremely brave woman. I have long hung on every word that She has to say. Impressive is not nearly enough - Amazing ! is my choice of description for ambassadors like Her !

    • hawkbartril
      hawkbartril 4 months ago

      What about Russia - gate baby doll, so have you given up on that one. But Hilary cliton got some good results from that.

    • hawkbartril
      hawkbartril 4 months ago +6

      Would you believe it Ukraine is winning. Ukraine is winning. Listen to her she says Russia blew up their very expensive pipeline when they didn't know at that time if their economy would pull through and they could of just turned it off. She's insane.

    • ginmar
      ginmar 4 months ago +11

      @hawkbartril God, you Russian bots aren't even trying.

    • Janice Pargh
      Janice Pargh 4 months ago +12

      It’s refreshing to listen to someone who knows what she’s talking about.

  • Rochester Johnny
    Rochester Johnny 3 months ago +1

    What she is saying at 29:30 is hugely important we in the US and UK better be prepared for this and up to the task

  • Alan
    Alan 4 months ago +35

    Very interesting perspective. She brought up an point that I didn't think about and that was the linkage between the poorly executed U.S. pull out of Afghanistan and how it may have factored into Putin's reasoning in invading Ukraine.

    • B Bodziak
      B Bodziak 4 months ago +16

      Most of the groundwork for Afghanistan was put in place by the previous administration. The release of over 5000 Taliban and ISIS-K fighters from prison, including the leader of the Taliban being held for 10 yrs in a Pakistani prison for terrorism, and the agreement for the total pullout of US troops was done in 2020.

    • Suhel Mullick
      Suhel Mullick 4 months ago

      @B Bodziak the leader was never sentenced as a terrorist. most prisoners in gauntanmo bay were innocent. so trump made the right decision

    • bogusie nombre
      bogusie nombre 4 months ago +6

      @Suhel Mullick and now they act like they do in their own country. Rotting it to poverty.

  • CovidCash
    CovidCash 4 months ago +1

    Construction began in February 2016. The road bridge was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 May 2018. It opened for cars on 16 May and for trucks on 1 October.

    • CV990A
      CV990A 3 months ago +1

      But opened for freight trains June 2020. Russia transports military equipment primarily by rail. So she's not wrong that the Kerch bridge may have been a pacing item for Putin's Ukraine plans.

  • Moonwalking
    Moonwalking 4 months ago +10

    Wonderful interview, but just one important remark: the US is not the most important single partner for Ukraine. EU provided billions in assistance to Ukraine, and more is yet to come. On security aspects the US is, indeed the most relevant partner by far, but not overall. After all Ukraine is part of Eastern Partnership initiative, and it has important commitments in consequence.

    • hawkbartril
      hawkbartril 4 months ago +1

      You are on the moon aren't you. Funnyman

    • Moonwalking
      Moonwalking 4 months ago +6

      @hawkbartril Well, as a matter of fact I am studying (PhD) the subject since 2014 so I know quite a lot of things. Providing to Ukraine the opportunity to join the EU is by far the most tangible way to integrate Ukraine into the international system. It is quite unfortunate that the EU and its member states do not take the credit they deserve.

    • neincre
      neincre 3 months ago

      @Moonwalking-

  • David Fenton Hancock
    David Fenton Hancock 3 months ago +17

    We have never heard of Marie Yovanovitch.......but there is a 21st century woman........Thank you Marie.

    • AK 464
      AK 464 3 months ago +1

      Complete NPC.

  • Fred Simmons
    Fred Simmons 4 months ago +8

    Even when not " buttoned down" this fine woman is formidable and should brook no disrespect from anyone.

  • BlueBaron3339
    BlueBaron3339 4 months ago +64

    Her courage during those hearings while getting the mean tweets from that sack of human sewage who tried to ruin her for no moral reason, oh how she impressed me. And the expression in her eyes of both sadness and resolve. That was moving. Her subsequent book was fascinating. And, apart from that verbal "um...um...um" tick, this was a captivating interview as well.

    • Luke Murray
      Luke Murray 4 months ago +13

      She said Russia is saying it is a big boys world and smaller nations will just have to put up with it but yet she ignores, this is exactly what America done with Cuba and most of South America and would do it again. No nation in the Americas is allowed to have the freedom to have a military alliance with anyone outside the Americas.

    • TrilobitesRTasty
      TrilobitesRTasty 4 months ago +10

      @Luke Murray And yet, nations in the Americas do have those alliances. But, Putin spews his propaganda, and there are those who parrot that propaganda.

  • Fox MacLeod
    Fox MacLeod 4 months ago +69

    I'm so happy to be able to watch older _Frontline_ stuff. Funny how all the for-profit subscription services, like HBO, Steam, and Netflix, are constantly removing content - HBO has been removing the ability to watch even major HBO-produced original shows, like _Westworld_ and _Raised By Wolves,_ effectively deciding to cease providing parts of the deal subscribers are paying for. The weirdest one is their show, _Minx,_ which had a popular first season, and thus was picked up for a second season. I was actually really looking forward to it.
    Then, recently, and literally **one week** before filming for that second season was completed - keeping in mind that they've _already paid to produce the second season_ - they announced that they decided to cancel it!
    While not for profit PBS, as always _not_ raking in the bushels of bucks like these subscription services are, they have no problem keeping the original content they created available for us to see. For free.

    • Y A
      Y A 4 months ago +4

      I think HBO prefers the tax write off of canceling a show instead of publishing a show produces by dozens of people's work. Capitalism sucks.

    • SolSere Jeremy
      SolSere Jeremy 4 months ago +5

      What does it have to do with an interview with the former ambassador to Ukraine?

    • Will S
      Will S 4 months ago +4

      While this comment is not directly about the former Ambassador to Ukraine ( from U S A ), I understand the sentiment. PBS ( and 60 Minutes and others ) keeps its content available ( including posting archive videos ), where the changes at HBOMax and policies at Netflix has those companies removing some older content lik this ( also partly due to the terrible changes brought in from the Discovery purchase ). It is a testament about how PBS will keep content like the whole long form interview we see freely available, using just a small amount of public spending and contributions.

    • r vanden
      r vanden 4 months ago +4

      @SolSere Jeremy It doesn't. But that's OK 👌. I gave it a like, as did many others.

    • Maija Liepa
      Maija Liepa 4 months ago +3

      🦅Thank You for These Comments 🦅All gratitude PBS 🦅

  • John Nicholas
    John Nicholas 4 months ago +37

    A very intelligent and informed person. She is a very effective public servant. I thank her.

  • 小星星學英文 English with Ethan

    A very in-depth interview. Retrospectively, hopefully the world has really learned from the war in Ukraine.

    • William Young
      William Young 4 months ago +2

      "Only the dead have seen the end of war." -Plato

    • Sabine Hahn
      Sabine Hahn 4 months ago +3

      It didn't learn from the war on Iran, so chances for learning for this one are very slim.

  • Michael Bruce
    Michael Bruce 3 months ago +1

    She is great.

  • Bill Walsh
    Bill Walsh 4 months ago +28

    Really great interview! This guy asked all the right questions, and I think got very good answers.

  • Dan Kelly
    Dan Kelly 3 months ago

    Excellent retrospection. Thank you.

  • Mike Dixon
    Mike Dixon 3 months ago +10

    Excellent interview. It has helped me understand why Russia is in the mess it is. Sadly many of the former USSR nations are at risk of invasion 😰

  • bluestarfish murphy
    bluestarfish murphy 3 months ago +4

    This interview is interesting in that ex ambassador Yovanovitch, is more open, less guarded, not in the slighted sense evasive and is immediate in her response to every question. I can't remember another diplomat from any country answering questions on very difficult issues, with as much honesty and integrity and with such fluency. She is to be congratulated for her courage and example. If only the politicians involved, had a fraction of her commonsense and vision, perhaps the war could have been avoided. Instead she is dismissed and the world is at the event horizon of a black hole. The political paranoia of those in control, could have gained much from the example of such a remarkable woman. Mind you , the US could start the ball rolling by admitting it's mistake and giving her a new post like Paris. Thanks Marie

    • Scriptsmith
      Scriptsmith 3 months ago +1

      "Such fluency" ( like when she said Russia had blown up its own pipeline "allegedly"- that's not fluency, that's sophistry.)

  • denis fries
    denis fries 3 months ago +6

    Guys thank you, great interview!

  • Jason Beedon
    Jason Beedon 4 months ago +11

    “Exactly where is the empire of lies?” Well said.

  • joeyfotofr
    joeyfotofr 4 months ago +10

    Powerful presentation. Almost flawless in articulating a clear understanding of the situation with Putin, Russia, EU, NATO & America. Brilliant speaker. No backtracking & no BS.
    The one place where I disagree is on the time frame of Ukrainian Nationalism. I'm an American who has not been in America for 12 years. Before I left the US, I attended lectures at Stanford's Eastern European Institute on the political & cultural history of Ukraine.
    Ukrainian nationalism, with a fully formed political, linguistic & cultural identity, did not begin in 2014. Without following breadcrumbs to 17th century Cossack rebellions, it was a powerful force in 19th century poetry and art, and a core of much of the resistance to Nazi atrocities.
    Putine is In denial of more than the political reality of Ukraine; he is also blind the the culture of the Ukrainian people, which has certainly now gained in power, even among Russian speakers.

    • hawkbartril
      hawkbartril 4 months ago +2

      God the state of it, how many of you know anything about geopolitics or you get it from the newspaper

    • happyhappynuts
      happyhappynuts 4 months ago +3

      Excellent point, National identity became forming much earlier.

  • umesharion ram
    umesharion ram 4 months ago

    Another key factor in the Soviet missile scheme was the hostile relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. The Kennedy administration had already launched one attack on the island-the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961-and Castro and Khrushchev saw the missiles as a means of deterring further U.S. aggression

  • pagarb
    pagarb 4 months ago +14

    I used to be a PI and did a lot of criminal defense cases, the thing that was so characteristic in ALL these cases was the predisposition of people up on criminal charges to lie, about themselves, what they did, about the police, and especially about their victims who they always claimed provoked them or did something that almost "forced" them into committing the acts they were charged with, such as a rapist saying their victim was the rapist. This is no different from the description of what Putin is doing, so the question, is he a psychopath like these guys were?? Under the circumstances it's a very fair question. The psychology in both instances looks identical. Nobody wants to say that but it's as plain as day, which brings up the question, by playing into his denial of reality, when do we become a part of the scam???

    • Peter Bejger
      Peter Bejger 3 months ago +1

      Astute comment! And a criminological analysis of a criminal regime in Moscow provides intriguing insights.

    • Hugh Jass
      Hugh Jass 3 months ago +1

      As a native Russian speaker I’ve come across a 2008 interview with a Russian psychiatrist, who even back then claimed and explained why Putin was a psychopath… And back in 2003 Russian liberal politician Valeriya Novodvorskaya (1950-2014) warned us all in her multiple interviews and newspaper articles that Putin was a fascist.

  • Trevor Van Tiel
    Trevor Van Tiel 3 months ago +13

    Well done PBS Frontline. Amazing series 👏

  • H.E. Hazelhorst
    H.E. Hazelhorst 3 months ago +2

    Excellent interview!
    @6:42 This combination of Putin’s lies and his views: the resemblance with Hitler is worrysome.
    @51:00 I guess she’s 100% right on Trump: Putin was counting on the re-election of Trump.

  • dendri calabro
    dendri calabro 4 months ago +40

    very beautiful interview. great woman. We need more (woman and men) like her.

  • Pius Hälg
    Pius Hälg 4 months ago +11

    She clearly wants to avoid open criticism of the Obama administration. But I remember that it was Obama who for instance cancelled the stationing of the rocket defence systems in Poland and in Rumania after he was reelected. And he was kind of caught making the promise to cancel the plan to Medvedev shortly before the election of 2011. This was not a sign of strengh and angered Poland a lot because Poland had invested heavily in convincing her population to accept this plan of the US.

  • Ольга Цаповська

    he did not need to be provoked to invade, in fact he did it without any help from outside

    • Odog Gow
      Odog Gow 3 months ago +1

      Taking back what is yours isn't an invasion!

    • neincre
      neincre 3 months ago +1

      aa In Europe the majority does not care what Russia is doing in Ukraine. We experienced Nazism it comes natural to us to side with Russia.

  • Glenn Mitchell
    Glenn Mitchell 3 months ago

    I've never heard any military person describe a problem as wicked.

  • Narine Limanoff
    Narine Limanoff 4 months ago +37

    Really good interview. I was born in former USSR Armenia an moved to US as a teen. Russia has always been the aggressor,, and Russian people only fight the government when they are hungry and have nothing to loos. So this may be a long war until there is hunger in Moscow. Slava Ukraini! No War!

    • Bill eib
      Bill eib 4 months ago +1

      Check out another frontline with Russian specialist Julia Ioffe, same ground but does a better breakdown of the US Prez-s and Putin's opinions of those Prez-s. Funny stuff.

    • Narine Limanoff
      Narine Limanoff 4 months ago +2

      @Bill eib Yes! The interview with Julia Ioffe is excellent.

    • Michel
      Michel 4 months ago

      @Bill eib I will check it out.

    • Anonymous Nob
      Anonymous Nob 4 months ago +3

      @Narine Limanoff Russia has always been the aggressor???? you're maybe right. after Iraq, Lybia, Seria, Afgha, now ukraine. bad russia huh ?

    • Narine Limanoff
      Narine Limanoff 4 months ago +5

      ​@Anonymous Nob 🤣🤣🤣🤣so if your friend jumps from the Empire State building so will you? Don't forget Russian aggression towards Chechnia, Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgiziya , Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yakutia, AND THE LIST GOES ON!!!!!!

  • Dzvinka Stefanyshyn
    Dzvinka Stefanyshyn 3 months ago +5

    Excellent. She answered all the questions.... not like our politicians. Dzvinka

  • Bonnie Miller
    Bonnie Miller 4 months ago +7

    I have such respect for this woman. Had Trump not obeyed Putin, and done his job for the preservation of American Democracy! Such a dereliction of duty on Trump’s part!!!

  • Lizanne Whitlow
    Lizanne Whitlow 4 months ago

    Marie was/is a hero.

  • Ben Bennemans
    Ben Bennemans 3 months ago +3

    Bush and Obama could not take issue with Russia attacking Georgia as the USA attacked Afghanistan and Iraq. What do you think Putin would tell them if they objected to Russia attacking that country? And the interviewer not bringing this point up means he is throwing softball questions at Marie.

  • Terry James
    Terry James 4 months ago +3

    Bush and Trump really let America down by being so gullible about Putin. It's really embarrassing and disconcerting.

  • yossarian MNichols
    yossarian MNichols 4 months ago +1

    You can't have a rules based country and government without an independent judiciary which Russia has not had since 1917. The US judicial employees seem to be going in the direction of Russia.

  • Bandit Somboonvinij
    Bandit Somboonvinij 4 months ago +42

    As part of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum signed by the US, UK and Russian Federation, Ukraine surrendered the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal inherited from the USSR in return for security guarantees.
    That is why UK & USA have kept promising in supporting Ukraine for security and territorial integrity against Russian Federation for territorial interests as well as security.

    • Susan Blakey-Grusing
      Susan Blakey-Grusing 4 months ago +9

      So true. Not talked about or written about enough. People forget. Please tell the Reality of how Ukraine 🇺🇦 has become vulnerable to this war.

    • super serb
      super serb 4 months ago +1

      you are talking about papers and guarantees.
      relationship beetwen countries is determined more by force.

    • B Bodziak
      B Bodziak 4 months ago +1

      @super serb Not since WW2. You are incorrect.

  • Audrey Talley-Rush
    Audrey Talley-Rush 4 months ago +3

    She is absolutely correct! Love her...

  • dorene russell
    dorene russell 4 months ago +2

    Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!

  • Mina Anacreonte
    Mina Anacreonte 4 months ago +5

    This lady should run for president, v impressed with her well rounded, careful, intelligent & impartial dialogue.

  • Lance Haley
    Lance Haley 4 months ago +14

    I'm not sure why Biden has not given her the Presidential Medal of Honor.

    • Jill Featherman
      Jill Featherman 4 months ago +1

      Because she’s useless?

    • Gino Perri
      Gino Perri 4 months ago

      @Jill Featherman
      No Jill ......
      Perché ancora gli USA non hanno vinto la guerra ah,ah

    • Dee Neyugn
      Dee Neyugn 4 months ago

      @Jill Featherman she was useless for Trump, that’s true. She’s patriotic lady.

    • Lance Haley
      Lance Haley 3 months ago

      @Jill Featherman And people like you think the insurrectionists are patriots

  • Antek P
    Antek P 4 months ago +46

    As a Pole, I am grateful to President Biden and his government for their strong support of Ukraine. I have more Republican views, which is why I am so shocked by Tucker Carlson's pro-Russian stance. This is a disgrace to Fox News

    • Antek P
      Antek P 4 months ago

      @Jake Bredthauer ???

  • Phillip Jernigan
    Phillip Jernigan 3 months ago +1

    Long Live 🇺🇦

  • Homer Beer
    Homer Beer 4 months ago +5

    George Bush "looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul". What a laugh. It shows what an empty suit bush was. A total embarrassment.

  • Travis
    Travis 3 months ago +6

    Another great interview

  • Soumendu Mukherjee
    Soumendu Mukherjee 4 months ago +17

    Hats off - these are the qualities to becoming an ambassador 😮❤

  • Ilama Mainuuoti
    Ilama Mainuuoti 4 months ago +7

    Putin thinks easy like he does in 2014 in Crimea but it's not Ukraine is independent country with a intelligence President. God bless Ukraine 🇺🇦 🙏 ❤️

  • Gregory Parrott
    Gregory Parrott 4 months ago +18

    Superb interview! I am so glad that Marie Yovanovitch remains engaged in policy analysis. Marie provides an extremely insightful and well balanced view of the aspects covered in this interview. It is fitting that she maintains continuity at Carnegie.
    As for trump, I knew he was a slime ball long before his Ukraine debacle. That perspective included his long history of vindictive conduct towards others, dating back well before his candidacy. Still, two of trump's most egregious acts were those he took against Marie and Alexander Vindman. I hope to see this creep indicted soon.

    • CovidCash
      CovidCash 3 months ago

      Here's the Deal Gregor, I've played Ball with The Trump Company many time, and i never been burned. You obviously shiver when confronted cause most educators aren't challenged. But when you are confronted you either scream racism or piss your pants. Stop bullying from your pulpit.

    • Gregory Parrott
      Gregory Parrott 3 months ago +8

      @CovidCash I don't understand what point you're trying to make. As far as playing 'Ball' with trump, HOW? Also, regardless of you not being burned, a LOT (and I mean a LOT) of people have experienced trumps needlessly vindictive abuse. Lastly, my 'bully pulpit' is far more modest and reaches far fewer people than trump's. So I will dismiss a suggestion that I stop when trump NEVER has - for decades.

    • desertmoon
      desertmoon 3 months ago +1

      YES. It's time. PAST TIME.

  • Greta
    Greta 4 months ago +8

    Ambassador Yovanovitch . Head held high for good reason .......a rare quality these days ............integrity..............She walked through fire in front of the world . She looks great :)

  • Corinne Niox Chateau
    Corinne Niox Chateau 4 months ago +13

    So smart, so courageous and responsible, a tribute to the United States. Thank you!

    • Parker Smith
      Parker Smith 3 months ago

      Hello Corinne
      how are you doing today?

  • Richard Rider
    Richard Rider 4 months ago +18

    Great. Fantastic set of interviews regarding Ukraine War...rr Normandy,Fra.

  • jaxfli
    jaxfli 4 months ago +25

    Thank You💕Marie💕 for all that you’ve done, America is Forever Grateful 🇺🇸

    • Parker Smith
      Parker Smith 3 months ago

      Hello Jaxfli
      how are you doing today?

  • Sumit Kar
    Sumit Kar 4 months ago +6

    Absolutely brilliant

  • Sean Burton
    Sean Burton 4 months ago +13

    I am hopeful as well. Thank you for this interview.

  • LiG BZd
    LiG BZd 4 months ago +1

    Leaders who have been corrupt in their country won't want to be out of power, and won't want the rule of law because if they are out of power their next stop would be jail.

  • Romeo Radin
    Romeo Radin 4 months ago

    Russia and Ukraine must get United and bring eternal peace for their nations.
    Peace🇷🇺❤🇺🇦Peace
    Peace 🇷🇺❤🇺🇦Peace

  • John Galt009
    John Galt009 4 months ago +3

    Brilliance displayed as usual.

  • Robert Baltha
    Robert Baltha 4 months ago +4

    Cuba once asked for assistance from Moscow, I think I remember America responding as if Cuba has no right to make decisions as if they were a sovereign nation🙈

    • Adriano Celentano
      Adriano Celentano 3 months ago

      When was that?

    • Marita **
      Marita ** 3 months ago

      @Adriano Celentano In 1961.
      Buonasera signorina...

    • Matthew Rampley
      Matthew Rampley 3 months ago

      Your point being that it is therefore OK for Russia to behave in the same way?

  • Adam Lamotte
    Adam Lamotte Month ago

    Had things gone as Putin anticipated he would have claimed not just a victory against Ukraine but against the US as well..

  • Eb theDoc
    Eb theDoc 4 months ago +8

    I am so grateful to Ambassador Yovanovitch, for her detailed memory of the timeline!

  • Muad'Dib
    Muad'Dib 3 months ago +1

    Life is better when people like this are doing FP, not clowns who bought their post via campaign donations.

  • Rolan Christofferson
    Rolan Christofferson 3 months ago +3

    Thank you Marie. May you be able to go back to a nation of Ukraine some day.

  • Montana Software
    Montana Software 3 months ago +8

    We can help Ukraine. Let's all contact our government representatives to urge more support to help Ukraine drive out the invaders. Ask them to send F16 aircraft and longer-range precision fires (like ATACMS). Send them an email, text, or old-fashioned letter (best option), call them on the phone, post on social media, etc. Let's do our part to maintain and strengthen national consensus in our own countries to give more support for Ukraine.

  • IMPM
    IMPM 4 months ago +11

    Marie, Julia and Antony Blinken, great analisys.

  • Angeline
    Angeline 4 months ago +6

    Actually said it in his depressing and Daunting hours, long speech about his special military mission. Yeah it’s all there.

  • None Ya
    None Ya 4 months ago +16

    Love her! ❤

  • josef kleine jaeger
    josef kleine jaeger 3 months ago

    I would like to see her in a debate with John Mearsheimer.

  • Bungalow Juice
    Bungalow Juice 4 months ago +28

    Thank you American tax payers. It's thanks to you I can watch these interviews.
    Love from Sweden!

    • Chad Bentoski
      Chad Bentoski 3 months ago +1

      Back at ya

    • equarg
      equarg 3 months ago +2

      As soon as Turkey gets their dang priorities straight, I 100% support you and Finland joining NATO.

    • joeyfotofr
      joeyfotofr 3 months ago +1

      FYI PBS also takes donations...