Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Explains How The Ukraine Russia War Started

Howie Mandel Does Stuff Clips

17 Jan 202410:05

Summary

TLDRThe script discusses the complex lead-up to the Ukraine war, challenging the narrative that Putin's intentions were to reestablish the Soviet Empire. It delves into historical events, including NATO's expansion and the 1992 promise to Gorbachev not to move eastward. The speaker critiques U.S. foreign policy, highlighting the 2014 Ukrainian government overthrow and the subsequent civil unrest. The Minsk Accords are mentioned as a peace attempt, with the U.S. allegedly pressuring Ukraine to reject them. The summary suggests that the U.S., not Russia, desired conflict, leading to the current situation.

Takeaways

🗣️ The speaker suggests that the narrative around the Ukraine war is similar to past conflicts, implying a pattern of misinformation.
🌍 The script references historical events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the promise not to expand NATO eastward, as context for current geopolitical tensions.
🤔 The speaker questions the motives behind NATO's expansion, suggesting economic and military-industrial interests may be driving factors.
🔄 The script discusses the role of key U.S. diplomats and their opposition to NATO's eastward movement, indicating internal disagreements on foreign policy.
🚫 The speaker highlights the U.S.'s departure from nuclear treaties with Russia and the installation of missile systems in Romania and Poland as provocations.
🇺🇦 The script describes the U.S.'s involvement in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, suggesting a push for a pro-U.S. government over a neutral stance.
🏆 The speaker mentions Zelensky's election and his initial commitment to peace, which was later undermined by external influences.
🤝 The script outlines attempts at peace negotiations, including the Minsk Accords, and the involvement of other countries in these efforts.
⛔️ The speaker alleges that the U.S., through figures like Tony Blair, undermined peace efforts and encouraged a continuation of the conflict.
🏰 The script concludes with a discussion of Russia's actions in Crimea and the broader context of its historical and strategic interests.

Q & A

What was the initial promise made to Gorbachev regarding NATO expansion?
-James Baker, the then Secretary of State, promised Gorbachev that NATO would not move one inch to the east.
Who proposed moving NATO to the Russian borders and why was this controversial?
-Zbigniew Brzezinski, a neoconservative, proposed moving NATO to the Russian borders. This was controversial because it was seen as provocative and against the initial promise made to Gorbachev, potentially escalating tensions.
What was George Kennan's stance on expanding NATO towards Russia?
-George Kennan, the architect of the containment policy during the Cold War, opposed the expansion, arguing it was insane and would force a violent military response from Russia.
Why did the US push for NATO expansion into new countries?
-NATO expansion into new countries was driven by the requirement for these countries to conform their weapons purchases to NATO specifications, which often meant buying weapons from US military contractors.
What was the significance of the US withdrawing from nuclear weapons treaties with Russia?
-The withdrawal from nuclear weapons treaties with Russia was seen as destabilizing Europe and increased tensions, as it removed agreements that were in place to prevent missile attacks on Russia.
How did the US involvement in Ukraine lead to the 2014 coup?
-The US, through USAID, which is often considered a front for the CIA, spent $5 billion to instigate a revolution known as the Maidan Rebellion, leading to the overthrow of the elected, neutral government of Ukraine.
What was the Minsk Accords and why was it significant?
-The Minsk Accords were a peace agreement signed by Germany, France, England, and Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. It was significant because it was an attempt to end the violence and establish peace.
Why did Putin annex Crimea and what was the reaction of the people there?
-Putin annexed Crimea to protect ethnic Russians and because the people of Crimea wanted to rejoin Russia. The annexation was done without firing a shot and without killing anyone.
What was the role of the US in the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022?
-The US, through figures like Tony Blair, influenced Ukraine's President Zelensky to reject a peace agreement that had been negotiated, leading to a continuation of the conflict.
What is the claim about the US's intentions regarding the conflict in Ukraine?
-The claim is that the US did not want the war to end and was more interested in maintaining a conflict with Russia, rather than seeking a peaceful resolution.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Geopolitical Context of the Ukraine War

The speaker challenges the narrative that Putin's actions in Ukraine are an attempt to reestablish the Soviet Empire. They argue that the public was misled, drawing parallels to the Iraq War and the false claims about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. The speaker then delves into history, starting from 1992 when the Berlin Wall fell, and Mikhail Gorbachev's decision to withdraw Russian troops from East Germany and allow reunification under NATO. They recount the promise made by James Baker to Gorbachev that NATO would not expand eastward, which was later broken with the inclusion of 14 new countries into NATO. The speaker criticizes the move as provocative and against the advice of seasoned diplomats like George Kennan and Bill Perry, who warned of the potential for a violent Russian response. The narrative continues with the U.S.'s withdrawal from nuclear treaties and the installation of missile systems in Romania and Poland, actions that further strained relations with Russia. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of the U.S.'s role in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, which led to the overthrow of the elected government and the installation of a pro-U.S. government, setting the stage for the ongoing conflict.

05:03

🏰 The 2014 Ukrainian Coup and Its Aftermath

The speaker details the events leading up to the 2014 coup in Ukraine, where the U.S. allegedly played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of the then-government. They mention Victoria Nuland, a high-ranking U.S. State Department official, who was recorded discussing the selection of a new Ukrainian cabinet prior to the coup, indicating foreknowledge of the event. The new government, once in power, began actions against Russian-speaking populations in Eastern Ukraine, leading to a civil war and the deaths of thousands. The Minsk Accords, a peace agreement, were eventually signed by Germany, France, England, and Russia, but not by Ukraine's President Zelensky, who initially campaigned on a peace platform. The speaker alleges that external pressures, including from the U.S., influenced Zelensky's decision not to honor the accords. The narrative then shifts to Putin's actions, including the annexation of Crimea and the deployment of troops to Eastern Ukraine, which the speaker frames as a response to the U.S.'s influence in Ukraine and the threat to Russia's strategic interests. The paragraph concludes with the claim that the U.S., through figures like Tony Blair, actively undermined peace negotiations and encouraged the continuation of the conflict.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ukraine War

The Ukraine War refers to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in 2014 and escalated in 2022. The video discusses the leadup to the war, suggesting that the narrative of an aggressive Russia is a misrepresentation. The war is central to the video's theme, as it serves as the backdrop for discussing geopolitical strategies and historical events.

💡NATO

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance between North American and European countries. The script mentions NATO's expansion eastward as a contentious issue, with Russia viewing it as a threat. The video argues that NATO's movement towards Russia's borders has been a significant factor in the tensions leading up to the Ukraine War.

💡Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was the former President of Iraq. The video draws a parallel between the narratives used to justify the Iraq War and the Ukraine War, suggesting that similar tactics of misinformation were used to build a case for military intervention. The mention of Hussein serves to highlight perceived patterns in the justification of wars.

💡Minsk Accords

The Minsk Accords refer to a series of agreements aimed at resolving the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The video discusses how these accords were a point of negotiation between Russia and Ukraine, and how they were undermined by external influences. The Minsk Accords are integral to understanding the peace efforts and the complexities of the conflict.

💡Neocons

Neoconservatives, or neocons, are a political movement that advocates for aggressive U.S. foreign policy, often including military intervention. The video implicates neocons in the push for NATO expansion, suggesting their influence as a driving force behind tensions with Russia.

💡Victoria Nuland

Victoria Nuland is a U.S. diplomat mentioned in the video as a key figure in U.S. foreign policy decisions regarding Ukraine. The script alleges that she was involved in orchestrating regime change in Ukraine, which is a significant claim within the video's narrative of U.S. involvement in the region.

💡Crimea

Crimea is a peninsula that was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. The video discusses Crimea's annexation as a response to the political turmoil in Ukraine and the perceived threat to Russia's strategic interests. Crimea's status is central to understanding the broader conflict dynamics.

💡Donbas

Donbas is a region in Eastern Ukraine where a significant portion of the population is ethnically Russian. The video describes the conflict in Donbas as a civil war, with Russia defending the rights of Russian-speaking Ukrainians. The situation in Donbas is a key element of the Ukraine War narrative presented in the video.

💡Nuclear Weapons Treaties

The video references the U.S. withdrawal from nuclear weapons treaties with Russia, suggesting this has contributed to the destabilization of Europe. The mention of these treaties underscores the broader security concerns and the potential for escalation in the conflict.

💡Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky is the President of Ukraine, mentioned in the video as a figure who campaigned on a peace platform but has been influenced by external pressures. The video discusses Zelensky's actions in the context of the Ukraine War, highlighting the complexities of leadership during times of conflict.

💡Peace Negotiations

Peace negotiations are discussed in the video as a series of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine War. The script suggests that these negotiations have been undermined by external actors, which is a significant claim in the video's argument about the role of international politics in the conflict.

Highlights

The speaker argues that the narrative of Putin as an aggressor aiming to take over Europe is a lie, similar to the false claims about Saddam Hussein.

The speaker discusses the historical context of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Gorbachev's decision to remove Russian troops from East Germany.

James Baker's promise to Gorbachev that NATO would not expand eastward is mentioned, contrasting with later actions.

The speaker criticizes the decision to move NATO closer to Russian borders, against the advice of key diplomats like George Kennan.

The economic motivations behind NATO expansion are highlighted, linking it to military contracts with US companies.

The speaker details the US's involvement in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, including the role of USAID and Victoria Nuland.

The consequences of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, including the rise of a pro-US government and the suppression of Russian-speaking populations, are discussed.

The Minsk Accords, a peace agreement, are introduced as a response to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

The speaker describes the election of Zelensky and his initial commitment to the Minsk Accords.

The alleged US pressure on Zelensky to abandon the Minsk Accords is mentioned, with claims of a peace agreement being torn up.

The speaker discusses Putin's actions in Crimea and the subsequent referendum to join Russia, emphasizing the lack of violence.

The speaker argues that Putin's primary goal was not to conquer Ukraine but to bring the US back to the negotiating table.

The involvement of Israel and Turkey in peace negotiations is noted, along with the alleged US interference in the process.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that while Russia's actions were illegal, the US has played a significant role in perpetuating the conflict.