Summary of Fareed’s Take: Putin’s ruthless rise to power
In this segment, Fareed Zakaria critiques recent comments made by Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, who praised Vladimir Putin and echoed Russian government narratives. Zakaria provides a historical overview of US-Russia relations, emphasizing that after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, the US sought to integrate Russia into global governance rather than isolate it. This included significant financial assistance and efforts to address Russia's security concerns through partnerships like NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Zakaria highlights Putin's rise to power in 1999, which was facilitated by a terrorist attack that enabled him to gain national support and wage a brutal war in Chechnya. He notes that Putin's imperial ambitions are driven by his belief that the Soviet Union's collapse was a geopolitical tragedy, leading him to aim for the re-establishment of a Russian empire that includes Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Central Asia.
The commentary details Putin's aggressive actions, including the invasion of Georgia and the annexation of Crimea, as well as his interference in Ukrainian politics. Zakaria argues that Putin's actions contradict the aspirations of the people in these regions for independence and alignment with the West. He concludes by asserting that the US seems to be inadvertently aligning with Putin's narrative, which is contrary to the principles of freedom and self-determination.
Presenters/Contributors:
- Fareed Zakaria
- Steve Witkoff (mentioned in context)
Notable Quotes
— 02:41 — « The key to understanding Putin's imperial ambitions is his famous statement that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. »
— 02:59 — « Putin has sought to gather back together, not the Soviet Union, but the Czar's empire. »
— 05:41 — « Putin is on the wrong side of history, freedom and human aspirations. »
— 05:47 — « The tragedy is that now the United States seems to have joined his side. »
Category
News and Commentary