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Twenty Years of Putin Playing the West in 3 Minutes | NYT Opinion

Vladimir Putin, especially these days, is widely reviled. To some he’s a war criminal, to others he’s a dictator, and to many he’s simply a very bad man. But it wasn’t always this way. We trawled through video footage from 20 years of international summits, speeches and news conferences and discovered a man who once basked in high regard: the one who went fishing and dancing with George W. Bush, who fell into warm embraces with Tony Blair and whose jokes had NATO’s leaders rolling on the floor with laughter. As the Opinion Video above starkly reveals, Western leaders once considered Vladimir Putin not just an ally, but also, apparently, a friend. Even if they were simply giving him the benefit of the doubt for political purposes, they were taking a naïve gamble of historic proportions: Be nice to Putin, and maybe he would be nice back. It’s true that this brand of personal diplomacy scored some significant security victories. Arms control treaties were signed, and Putin allowed U.S. jets to strike the Taliban from bases in Russia’s satellite states. But as Russian tanks rolled into Georgia in August 2008, Bush learned that his eight-year friendship with the Russian leader had earned him zero leverage over Putin’s territorial ambitions. While it’s debatable whether Western governments could have foreseen the bloody horizon of Putin’s vision, let’s now be clear about one thing: Personal diplomacy doesn’t work when you need it most. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/U8Ys7n More from The New York Times Video: http://nytimes.com/video ---------- Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.

The New York Times

1 year ago
“For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” “I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul. I wouldn’t have invited him to my ranch if I didn’t trust him. The part that Russia has played in the international community since the 11th of September has been remarkable. I mean we have cooperation today that would have been really unthinkable just a short time ago.” “I am confident that this new level of cooperation between NATO’s members and Rus
sia will now change the world and for the better.” “I will declare that to be a joke.” “Do I trust him? Yeah, I trust him.” “Russian heavy guns were firing at Georgian positions inside Georgia. Buildings are burning from the last air strike, and people are warning that the Russian Air Force may soon be back.” “I brought with me today a big delegation of British business all with an interest in expanding their trade with Russia.” “We seek a significant and sensible approach to economic developmen
t across our continent, and to that end will now be closely interconnected for decades to come.” “I’m aware of the extraordinary work that you’ve done on behalf of the Russian people.” “Breaking news from Ukraine. Overnight, armed men seized control of two government buildings as Putin announces he’s sending troops.” “Many of Putin’s critics have mysteriously become ill or died.” “—apparent vicious political assassination of one of President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics.” “A new repor
t about Russian interference in the presidential election. Next, to look at how strong the evidence is, and that points to the Putin Government.” “Former Russian spy is in a critical condition in hospital.” “Investigators suspect the Kremlin could be behind the incident in Salisbury on Sunday.” “He says great things about me. I’m going to say great things about him. He’s been a leader far more than our president has been a leader. Wouldn’t it be great if we actually got along with Russia? Am I w
rong in saying that? Wouldn’t it be great? I believe that President Putin really feels, and he feels strongly, that he did not meddle in our election.” “He’s not going into Ukraine, O.K., just so you understand. He’s not going to go into Ukraine.”

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Comments

@anonjan82

As far as I can see he was totally honest and clear. Problem was that nobody took him serious.

@natedeichard1261

Now do 100 years of the US playing with the World in 30 hours.

@sonsoeg

He has not played the west, he has always been clear on what he wants

@mikesaundersnyc5200

Mr Putin himself told the BBC back in 2000 that "Russia is ready to co-operate with Nato... right up to joining the alliance. I cannot imagine my country isolated from Europe," he added.

@heristyono4755

"He's not going into Ukraine" Well, technically, it's true, he's still in Moscow

@benaldinhomasaba

Putin: “I suggest from now on, the head quarters of Nato should be renamed The Council of Soviets” really hits hard.

@user-hg2sf5hu7l

When you’ve seen enough US presidents, you know what cards they’re holding when they sit down.

@Moribus_Artibus

It's adorable how the NY Times makes it seem like they weren't played in all these years as well.

@miguelpoky2

The Soviet joke was wild 😅 especially when the person asks if it was a joke and then he just smiles.

@josephhebert1785

You can't claim that he was playing the West if the West was trying to play him at the same time problem is we couldn't keep our story straight because we kept electing people who disagreed with each other so we feel like he was getting over on us the whole time

@NorthPoleSun

Title should be "Twenty Years of the West Playing Putin in 3 Minutes"

@alexanderkuznetsov4190

For people confused with the “soviet” joke - its a wordplay. “Soviet” means “council” in russian.

@Meghnaaad

Bush: I can see through your soul. Putin: laughing hysterically.

@ronymooney6175

"Our mistake was that we trusted you too much. And your mistake was that you tried to take advantage of that." - Putin.

@TroySan1985

i keep finding him to be a savant, well spoken and on the ball

@MG-ce4mp

Mr. president PUTIN is the BEST❤🙏👍

@Lmao_ded

When people laughed off Putin's idea of calling the NATO headquarters the council of soviets that's when Putin took things personally

@Frederick.J.Marshall

‘I looked the man (Putin) in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country." - George W. Bush on Putin, 2007

@eight8muzik

Just because he didn't bow to any demand you don't like him. That's the whole reason. He doesn't play by your rules because you're hipocrites.