Putin asked Bill Clinton "Why did you make an enemy out of us?"
41:48
More than that I will say one thing that, I have never said before in public, I will say it for the first time. Back in 2000 when President Bill Clinton was visiting Moscow at the end of his term I asked him how would America see Russia joining NATO? I would not give you all the details of that conversation but the reaction to my conversation looked, well, very reserved let me put it this way, and how did Americans really look at this possibility? You can see it in their practical steps in regard of our country - open support of the terrorists and North Caucasus - ignoring our demands and our concerns in the security area, withdrawing from the treaties, arms treaties and so on and so forth. It still begs the question, why, why did they do that? What for? Okay, you don't want to see a friend in us and ally in us, but why do you want to make an enemy out of us? The only answer that we got was - it's not about our political regime or anything else it just they don't need such a big and independent country as Russia. So, that's the answer to all the questions, that's the source of traditional American policy they pursue.
- Vladimir Putin, February 21, 2022
What Putin really said yesterday and what msm won't tell you. English translation of Putins Address to the Russian Federation Transcript: [link to en.kremlin.ru] First he explains the historical foundation of Ukraine and Russias relationship. "I would like to emphasise again that Ukraine is not just a neighbouring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space. These are our comrades, those dearest to us – not only colleagues, friends and people who once served together, but also relatives, people bound by blood, by family ties." He then goes on "Essentially, the so-called pro-Western civilisational choice made by the oligarchic Ukrainian authorities was not and is not aimed at creating better conditions in the interests of people’s well-being but at keeping the billions of dollars that the oligarchs have stolen from the Ukrainians and are holding in their accounts in Western banks, while reverently accommodating the geopolitical rivals of Russia. Some industrial and financial groups and the parties and politicians on their payroll relied on the nationalists and radicals from the very beginning. Others claimed to be in favour of good relations with Russia and cultural and language diversity, coming to power with the help of their citizens who sincerely supported their declared aspirations, including the millions of people in the south-eastern regions. But after getting the positions they coveted, these people immediately betrayed their voters, going back on their election promises and instead steering a policy prompted by the radicals and sometimes even persecuting their former allies – the public organisations that supported bilingualism and cooperation with Russia. These people took advantage of the fact that their voters were mostly law-abiding citizens with moderate views who trusted the authorities, and that, unlike the radicals, they would not act aggressively or make use of illegal instruments." "Ukraine itself was placed under external control, directed not only from the Western capitals, but also on the ground, as the saying goes, through an entire network of foreign advisors, NGOs and other institutions present in Ukraine. They have a direct bearing on all the key appointments and dismissals and on all branches of power at all levels, from the central government down to municipalities, as well as on state-owned companies and corporations, including Naftogaz, Ukrenergo, Ukrainian Railways, Ukroboronprom, Ukrposhta, and the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority."
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