empowerment. that is why charter invested billions, building infrastructure upgrading technology, empowering opportunity in communities of big and small. charter is connecting us. parks charter communication is a public service. while the other television providers giving a front receipt to democracy. >> is our guest is with the wilson center an expert on russia. right now as you and i are talking in geneva, switzerland u.s. and russia talks are underway. cnn is characterizing them as high-stakes, would you agree with that? >> it is higher stakes putin hasn't really introduced a brinksmanship policy. he wants security guarantees it's very difficult for the united states and the allies to issue those guarantees. it is a high-stakes

negotiation records what our security guarantees is he looking for? >> he posted a bunch of them. basically he wants to ensure nato does not expand to ukraine. president biden has been pretty explicit in his previous dealings with president putin nato expansion is not on the table president biden has said ukraine has to deal with the question of corruption which is a pervasive before ukraine could begin to consider ukrainian to nato. there are high-stakes and it does not appear anyway there's a lot of room for compromise especially on the russianci sid. >> why not? >> putin has put himself into a corner. his rhetoric has expanded

tremendously and of his advisors. if the united states and its allies do not provide some kind of security guarantee, he will have to either act or back down. president putin has a record of not liking to back down. it is a high-stakes negotiation and the rhetoric has been very harsh. >> why is ukraine a threat to russia in putin's opinion? >> kain is not directly a threat to russia and indeed ukraine has basically said it does not want to engage in military action against russia. ukraine has forged anha independent path since the collapse of the soviet union. itl has promoted democracy. it has promoted civil society.

in that sense it isit an alternativeus to the russian regime enter russian politics as a whole. the threat from ukraine as it provides ann alternative path that has ramifications affirm russia. ukraine has two revolutions essentially and suggest there is another potentially evolution underway. putin does not want them to haveth it. >> explain why because a stan is adding to attention. >> is adding to the tension because russia has vowed to send troops under the

collective. they have only but russia is now assuming the role of restoring ability and order and causes done. that may take a few days, that may take a few weeks. or it may take a longer time. putin has exposed himself to get another potential front he has to deal with. simultaneously while he has a brinks brinkmanship's policy in ukraine. honestly, putin can pursue two of these policies at the same time the question is at what cost rick works joint in this conversation democrats, republicans, independent start dialing in now. you can text us a question as well. includepe state, state and your

first name. i want you to respond to secretary of state anthony blinken yesterday on the state of the union ahead of the talks that are underway right now in geneva, switzerland here is what he had to save it. >> it seems and lightly putin will withdraw troops or take at least some of them off the border without some concessions by the u.s. you've already said those two i mentioned are off the table or not on the table, what about moving weaponry out of pulling moving further west what about moving missiles, what about limiting the scope of u.s. exercise or any of those on the table? >> first i don't think were going to see any breakthroughs in the coming week. were going to build a put things on the table, the russians will do the same. both directly with us at nato we will see if they are grounds for moving forward. here's what i can say, first any progress is going to make

is going to have a i reciprocal basis. the united states and europe are taking steps to address russia's concern russia will have to the same thing. second, nothing is happening and third attire to see actual progress as opposed to talking in an atmosphere of escalation with a gun to you head. for actually going to make progress read to have to seek de-escalation russia throwing back. >> well, they have had over 1000 troops at the border for several months now. there does not seem to be any indication putin wants to backwa down. there does not seem any indication putin's going to make compromises. he has issued ultimatum spirit ultimatums are not acceptable

to the united states. so trying to find an area of compromise, of negotiation will be very difficult. and a blink and is it has to be reciprocal. united states and its allies cannot take moves without any sort of concession from the russian federation. and as i've said and in pollutants rhetoric they have not given any i indication they are in a mood to compromise. >> essentially the fear would be a rapid force from russia into ukraine. and were trying to take certain cities and undercut ukrainiant sovereignty.

and essentially i have a massive invasion of o ukraine. ukraine's armed forces have been upgraded over the last few years. but it is unclear whether they could have a serious and comprehensive reaction because they will be outnumbered and the russians have put significant force on the border. so the question is, to what extent does russia invade with a massive force? and to what extent does ukraine have the ability to fight back? the only thing that i can guarantee is ukraine will fight back. and there will be significant casualties on bothca sides. >> characterize the strength of the russian military. >> the russian military is a rapid program under president

boudin. so the military at the end of the soviet union, the russian military was not a very flexible or up-to-date force. putin has changed that. he has significant funds in the army. and has an ability to have a more comprehensive and multifaceted invasion. so has increased, it has intervened in other post-soviet space. it has intervened in sierra. the capability of the russian federation is enhanced that's not the old soviet military that basically crumbled at the end of the soviet union break. >> front page of the "new yorke times" ukraine quietly tries its own talks with: russia, can you tell us about those conversations?

>> i have not been aware of these types of conversations. it is unclear and will be a major concession and separate negotiations in ukraine. russia perceives ukraine as a public state of the united states. it has basically not agreed to any of the proposals put forward by ukraine to have some sort of negotiation on their own. and indeed president zelensky has put together a new program which advocated the return. these are simply unacceptable

for russia. i am very skeptical whether president putin will engage with president zelensky as an equal and a one on one basis. instead i think the talks in geneva are ongoing is what boudin wants. a bilateral negotiation between the united states and russia so it is perceived russia is an equal power and its concerns are being addressed right. >> we are talking about russia and the forces they have put on the border, on ukraine and the rising tension on those actions between the united states and russia. we are taking your comments and questions as well. george and bellevue, washington independent go-ahead. >> good morning. >> good morning george. >> good morning. i just want to ask, i want to thank you for talking with us first of all. i want to thank c-span for making this possible.

i noticed you sent president biden has said ukraine would not be a candidate for nato unless they took care of problems with corruption. i just wondered if that's been a typical policy. i know nato has expanded in various countries and what if corruption has been a problem with turkey for instance? this is been an ongoing united states policy or is this something this kind of a new thing with interest in corruption? and it was pretty rampant around the world in various countries. >> let's take that point. >> guest: i think this has been vertically focused on ukraine. ukraine has had significant problems issuing dealing with the issue of corruption. and i think president biden basically is this issue to

push the obsession of ukraine road.he and unfortunately president boudin has decided this issue cannot be delayed anymore. it is a significant threat in ukraine represents a significant threat to russia. i think we have not use this issue before and transitions to nato. but i think it was an attempt by president biden to diffuse the situation and basically say ukraine's admission to nato is a long way off. >> independent. do you think it is a matter of trust when reagan and bush went to klobuchar off asking if you'd reunify east and west of germany that nato would not go 1 inch east.

you also thinkhi putin is ready to give up his own weather port for the black fleet? thank you. >> he's not willing to give up he is invested heavily in the acquisition and has basically said it's an integral part of the russian federation. and indeed during the recent rising of the russian constitution the constitution now says russia cannot alienate, give up any part of the russian federation. i now it is an integral part of the russian federation. in terms of expanding nato this is a very old debate that has been revived during the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the soviete union. what did the united states promised to go butch off in terms of naval expansion, there are a lot of scholars

investing in this issue. but it appears and has been reinforced the united states made no promises about nato expansion toward eastern europe. we did did say we would not expand nato during the time of reunification. but that time hasas ended. there is no really written record that would suggest the united states and allies said there be no extension of nato. >> donald in north carolina, democratic color. >> good morning. thank you for c-span. i am very surprised over conversations forth months now the people on our side, the u.s., we talk about this until explained to we the people

what's the difference between the situation that we have now where russia does not want adversaries parked next door. we have a situation which we had with cuba on the we are on the other side now. nobody says the u.s. should do this or that u.s. did this before, i am puzzled and i have been around for 90 years. >> there is a difference or to the cuban missile crisis and what is going on today. i would emphasize that in today the issue about the expansion of dado and the threat it imposes the theoretical threat it imposes to russia is a vastly

overblown. on the fact nato has been a defensive alliance and does not have a record of offense of actions. so yes we have had various confrontations with the soviet union in the past about the placement of and so forth. the attempt by russia to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of ukraine is a different set of issues. >> keith and illinois republican call your next. >> i just want to see how many countries we are going to be at war with by the time this guy is done. thank you. >> william let me ask you this question posed by the "new york times", and the west stop an invasion by russia into the

ukraine? they do not have any the west does not have anyny sort of requirement to aid militarily to ukraine. so i dok not think a military action on the part of the united states. i was in the cards. ukraine in that sense will have to defend itself. >> this is the opinion section of the wall street journal per the editorial i'm sorry of the "new york times". l thisitorial board morning says this, russia invites calamity if it invades ukraine. whatal calamity? >> as i said before in the calamity number one is the potential for a concerted defense of ukraine by ukrainian forces. i think the other calamity they areth referring to is the western reaction to such an

invasion. there is a large discussion as to what sort of sanction the states and its allies will impose if russia invades ukraine. a lot of speculation has centered on the banking system and essentially russia will be exiled from the financeio community. there are also various discussions about serious export controls of technology against russia. and so the calamity is not just the military casualties. but in fact the economic isolation thatol will ensue if russia decides to invade ukraine. >> economically what would that do to russia? >> russia is dependent on foreign technology in terms of

its industries in the aerospace industry. one of the fruits of the post-soviet world is russia is integrated into the global economy but it's not just simply finance but investments and so forth. and again, if we impose sanctions on russia, serious sanctions, lots of companies hesitant to invest in russia or deal with russia with the possibility of potential sanctions being in both. it would just been there would be a serious reduction of investments in economic trade with russia. other question is, russia has already survived post- 2014 that were imposed by europe and the united states during

the annexation. russia has figured out ways by which to cope and to survive. and so the question is, how devastatingin these sanctions are? experts like to think they willhi be decisive. but over the past few years we have seen russia can survive sanctions and still have a secure economy. especially so much of it is related to oil and gas. >> let me get your response rates in the wall street journal is the crisis the rebirth of the soviet union? >> well potentially if russia gets its way and basically if the new president is dependent

on russia for stability and order, then there will be an effort i think from a russia to have a greater role in the domestic affairs. as a member of the economic union and has significant economic times to russia. and has also asserted its independence and many times in terms of greater integration with the russian federation. for example when the economic union was founded russia wanted to create a unified currency . because exxon was the country that even refused to consider having a one in currency. >> let me get in jon he's in florida democratic color, jon go ahead. >> thank you. i am in ukraine i am 8:30

three year federal employee. most people have ukraine ron. put it well when he said ukraine is the older brother and russia is the younger brother. when he went to visit ukraine in 2010, i advised ukraine as a fulcrum. whatever happens in ukraine will happen in the rest of the world i think ukraine is always been vital was very disappointed when ukraine decided not to join and to pursue its own economic ties to the european union.

putin has made some very provocative statements about ukraine, most notably ukraine and russia are one nation or onee people. this historically is not accurate. has asserted its independence at various times in russian history. so russia may be the younger brother and has exerted influence for centuries and putin wants to reaffirm that break. >> u.s. russia and talks right now this morning in geneva switzerland. william pomerantz we appreciate you joining us for this conversation. >> thanks very much. ♪ ♪ >> c-span's "washington journal" we are taking your calls alive, on the air, on the news of the day and will discuss policy issues that impact you. discussion about changing

voting laws in congress and various state legislatures with american enterprise institute resident scholar. then national nurses united president talks about the latest on the coronavirus response efforts to keep safe. watch "washington journal" my pet seven eastern tuesday morning on c-span or on c-span now our new mobile app or a joint discussion with your phone calls, facebook comments, text messages and tweets. this week on the c-span network, the senate will debate imposing sanctions on natural gas pipeline that's become involved with the u.s. diplomatic efforts between russia and the ukraine breed senate majority leader chuck schumer also intends to work on the voting rights bill which may involve changing the senate filibuster rules for the house returns in their holiday breaks to take up veterans benefits legislation on tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

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