need to descend, ah, join us in the depths or remain in the shallows. ah, lastly, as at 12 years ago, you gave an interview to the wall street journal, a very reputable newspaper, and you said that you considered russia a european country. do you still feel that way? oh, yeah, go ahead 1st else, but isn't it? well, geographically with the same country, without a doubt, russia has been and will continue to be a european country, just as it is in asian countries. in terms of it geography in history, russia is a european country also where european in terms of our cultural identity. because a good part of our population represents the european civilization, which is closely linked to the kristi and civilization wealth. but we also have a lot of people that belong to the muslim faith,

as well as to russia's other major religions here, buddhism and judaism. usually there isn't. obviously, we're not talking about geography here today. many russians, including the country's top officials, if you listen to what they are saying, feel that we are setting ourselves up against europe as its opposite venue them. but those are still to put to a boss though. no, it's them who are setting themselves up against us trying to distinguish themselves from us. they don't have a monopoly on european this. the european civilization develops steadily all across the continent shore. we are not in that sense, successes to the roman empire and like a number of other european countries that belong to the germanic language group. we have our own history, but our history is just as european as theirs. so when they say to us that we're no longer considered european, that sounds ridiculous. frankly, that's all i have to say about our identity. that's no reason to make any judgments what you asked me a question, and i told you that we're even more european than they are,

that soul. and i'm good if the way to publish and even i beta the scale of answer russian sentiment in the situation. staggering cycle of europe in the countries we believed were our friends and partners, how united in their deep, hateful fall country. and it's manifest in a tavern level. now, europeans hallways claim they were so tolerant and committed to the principles of democracy, say, such terrible things about us and russians. this volatile a lead us not to mention biden's. i don't think was that ahead in the rhetoric like that from the tech official of his canada. on the other hand, if we take pull and made it by this is not so bad of tell you. and if, and i asked a question about poland, if we could milan for a moment from discussing the main issue, i didn't. what's your assessment of was as position in this situation because it feels like poland is not home. his parents play key role here, but also to have the wolf and the western parts of a crime is some kind of protector. it store and a standard. this is 2 questions and want to mask you both. no, just that the rhetoric is definitely very shop. it's no doubt defined by current events and all the political forces in europe are trying to use this situation to

their advantage and achieve their own goals in terms of domestic policy. every country has something to deal with. b at elections or a crisis or the need to create a coalition. and so they need a target or an enemy. in this case, russia is the designated enemies. i am not surprised by the rhetoric you're right though. when you say that sometimes it defies comprehension or as they say goes beyond good and evil an every day level. we also say this, we're surviving rhetoric manifesting. although i would say a different case by case it also has to do with new communication methods, such as social media platforms. because the patterns that were less common before we can now take root instantly. pacific rhetoric is nothing new though. recently, i quoted a russian poet who talked about how the west ganged up on russia 150 years ago, did everything in their power to turn us into outcasts and pariahs. he noted that this which had lasted for 30 years. i can't help it see certain similarities between those times and modern brush up on russia in its current form is just over 30 years old. and for those 30 years we've been blamed for everything,

especially in the last 20 years or so. they've said we've picked up everything from the usaa, including his ideology, even though that's not true. and they criticize us for this and that. so the worst of phobic rhetoric was seen from the west now is nothing new from time to time, we hear absolutely astonishing remarks, but were polite and we never get personal life. no one points out that there are some people who exhibit clear signs of dementia. old age senility, no one talks about gram policy lose their balance while climbing the stairs to board a plane. oh forget which way they offices go straight into the bushes. no one points this out because we're polite and refrained from mentioning these things. role that boils down to ethics and good manners, asthma, poland, i did have to speak on the subject recently because of the role poland is trying to take on. now silly poland has been trying to win back hundreds of years rather than decades of its fail attempts to restore its former glory. and if it can't do that, then at least to remind the well, the fact of poland used to be a very serious power. both in europe and globally,

whole most an empire in the making of today the countries elite is represented by the law and justice party. and they have been on a pro american and aggressively anti russian path. for the last 10 years. i can recall a different time when poland russia actively tried to restore their relationship, especially in the wake of the tragic death of the parties. president and it looked quite doable because they would know impossible obstacles between us. but once the opposition party i just mentioned, rose to power the country's vector changed dramatically, it became wildly were surviving. i cannot call it anything but political imbecility, since there is nothing more to it. the trying to consolidate the vote is that a very anti russian, and it's no secret opponent has quite a number of such people as there are historical reasons for that. so they're trying to take advantage of that and put their think and ukraine's affairs, especially since poland is now hosting a fairly large number of refugees from ukraine. opponent is trying to use that for its own benefit. shut their, adopting some measures that do not only aim to support refugees,

because naturally only one can want to help them out. but also to find yet another way to punish russia. they're proposing some new schemes, even amending the constitution in order to be able to confiscate russia's property . yesterday, they expelled a large number of russian diplomats anymore. i don't really understand what they're trying to achieve with all that. because if russia which expel a matching number of diplomats, poland would have to close down its entire embassy. it is that good at the end of the day is up to each sovereign state to decide whether to maintain diplomatic relations or not. this kind of policy is utterly destructive. i like to recap that punish authorities is simply trying to prove the utmost loyalty to the united states and get more points for it by way of financial and economic support, as well as to get more political support domestically believe this is all sad and it's not going to end, well, it's quite natural. they can expect a symmetrical reaction to the actions or counter measures dictated by national law . but we will simply end up in a situation where we stop talking to each other completely. is it good for poland? i don't know. it's potent decision at the end of the day. i'm in asia,

get it out of anxious law. of course, we are not the general stuff, and i am not a representative of the ministry the fence, but i will tell you honestly that my friends and acquaintances constantly ask how long the offensive will ask. but as i said, we'll know on friends and scott embankment for the security council, the russian federation is here. can i ask you what you personally think about the course of the operation and how much it actually meets the goals that were announced? specific nazi operation took place primarily because the goals that the russian state set for itself will not achieve through diplomacy. the presidents said this at the start, that the course of the operation, the plans for its implementation, had determined by the supreme commander in chief, according to the constitution. it is the president, the president gave his assessments. the operation is progressing, according to plan plan was prepared and approved by the supreme commander. therefore, i will not give any additional assessments. now. he seems to me that this is completely exhaustive assessment that was given by the president. but it is obvious that the operation will continue until the goal set by the president the country

are achieved. these goals concern the future of ukraine. the states, as evie crane is a neutral state, a state that does not pursue an antique russian policy. the state that is not militarized and a state that should be on normal neighbor shop, therefore, until the results of a demilitarization and d notification of ukraine were achieved. the operation must continue, as it was conceived by the president of the country as it was decided. and i usually think yes has taken similar actions and multiple occasions in the past in the regions that i know way portal, they immediate interest in these countries and not their neighbors are a threat to the us. take a guess. neither iraq, afghanistan, but the us is an interaction has never resulted in such a massive and consolidated response from the west. no one responded to embalmed, waiting pontine of gun stand by shutting down. european call the shops in the last . there were no other precautions either. why, why are we witness in such a powerful response to russia's moves that he is absolutely justified in terms of our security more now, this is not going to sound as an insight,

but clear. the u. s. believe it is a nation outside international law above everything else by following the collapse of the u. s. s. r and then to the bipolar world order, based on the standoff to we night and the warsaw pact, the u. s. saw itself as the winner and the so beneficiary of the soviet union's demise. while in reality, the soviet union broke up. not because of nate as activities, but for internal reasons. and that's why they behave accordingly. they believe they cannot be brought to justice, but they have the right to judge every want. they are the ultimate decision makers . they have the right to do whatever they want. deals been, there are a number of drivers behind this behavior. first of all, economically the u. s is a very strong country. secondly, it issues the main reserve currency with vengeance on continuing to pile up its domestic debt. i. but in fact, it is the whole world that is the u. s. is credited the entire world could be struggling, plunged into crisis while the americans are printing dollars. that is why they now fell completely unpunished in this respect as well. exactly. for that reason, the u. s. actions in afghanistan, iraq and vietnam

a few decades ago. and never come under any legal scrutiny by the international community. however, at the time of the vietnam war, the soviet union was still alive, pushing for quite heavy debates as a multi lateral platforms. however, at the time of the vietnam war, the soviet union was still a, i'm pushing for quite heavy debates at multi lateral platforms. the soviet union, as you know, was helping vietnam. but then the u. s. pursued is policy for a long time. we all remember the way it ended, mind you vietnam is 1000 kilometers away from the u. s. by now it's a fact few people remember, even in this country, because it was a long time ago, but my vietnamese friend said the u. s. intervention in vietnam throughout much of the 19 sixty's killed over 1000000 vietnamese. just think about it over a 1000000. take a look at the map and see for yourself or the u. s. is and way of vietnam is still the u. s. went in and over a 1000000 people died as a result, even then it was never widely condemned. although we had the warsaw pact and the soviet union in place. and after the soviet union disappeared from the world map

along with the warsaw pact, the u. s. got absolutely out of control. they think they can do whatever they want . yugoslavia as a case in point we saw to disregard international law. the use of the armed forces and weapons by number of countries including depleted uranium ammunition. was there any uproar note they realized they could go ahead, concocted a justification, and got away with it today some european laid is admit, well, yes, maybe they overreacted a little, but it does not go beyond that. but again, the u. s. behaves this way around the world because they think there is no longer any competition, but they are wrong. life does not stand still prompting new developments in international relations and new countries emerging a strong power houses. it means new centers of gravity and international relations, being shaped, take the people's republic of china, india, and the russian federation. the unipolar world is over u. s. is no longer the mazda of planet tough when those passions fit in. you must be aware that some russians packed their belongings and left the country

immediately after the special crisis started in the dumbass. do you think they will return or is it a one way ticket linea? how should i know i was? what can you say to those people who decided to leave russia or with the quote of shane or curtain? shall i work with you through shifted? every man is the architect of his own fortune is their right to make such decisions . some people have left for the time being, as i understand others have left the good faring that the current situation may affect their lives in the future. it's their decision. i won't comment or criticize these people you will do is obvious. for me personally, the significant part of these people will return to russia. eventually, this military operation affects every one psychological state. you say, people keep thinking about it. i believe this may have been one of the reasons for some people, but that's it. i believe. what is more important for the country is, for example, the way program is treat current events. these businesses are international. now they've ended up being cut off from everything payment systems, banking, operations, major foreign customers, for them. consequences are really harsh,

and i can understand their motives why they're trying to find a better place under the sun. the government has prepared a number of proposals to this end. the president has already signed a decree. let's hope they'll succeed in mitigating the negative consequences. id specialists and keep them in the country. but let's hope that most of them will stay in russia. this is a real problem, and i'm really sorry for these people on a personal level because they are in a dire situation. and although it wasn't asked to introduce these limitations, but we still have to think about how to make things better for these people because i can't give a moral and ethical assessment of these people's actions. because i don't know their motivations. the motivation can be different in each particular case, as they say, don't judge and you will not be judged, let them return if they wish to. and if some of these people choose not to return, as i said, it's their personal choice. and some of them don't deserve our sympathy, but there's a great difference between those who simply left and those who expressively disapproved the government's official possession of the decision to carry out a military operation or even take the other side. i proceed from the belief that

under routine circumstances, absolutely normal to criticize the decisions made by the government, him by the supreme authorities. it's okay not to like something to disagree and to think a certain decisions will lead to negative consequences. it's normal but not in the current situation. you say if you go down this road, you can find the hit rock bottom and be like the bolsheviks and lenin the wish to fate on their own country and world war one. and this is not just an immoral thing to do. it is trace it. and these people have put themselves in this position. no one ever want to shake their hands. there are people like this? not many though. and once again, i'm not speaking about those who left the country for some simple reason. it's their personal choice. as i said, i can, if you have to draw a line between emigration, whenever the reason and treason these things and not the same, she title and dealing with those who have remained in russian society in russia as a whole. now support decoration and ukraine, crazy. of course they do, and this is not my opinion. all the data is made public no matter what

a spiteful critic say, or right dis, support is obvious. that according to the latest surveys, 3 quarters of the country's population support, the operation being conducted. if we talk about the rating of the highest official, that is the president of our country than this rating is even higher. this, in fact, is the support. i'm not talking about a demonstration, this kind of unity. like, for example, we had recently english sneaky, she say this is worth a lot and it shows how people perceive the problems that our country is facing. i will say again, you may be dissatisfied with certain decisions of the authorities. it is normal to criticize the authorities. this is part of democracy, but it's such a difficult situation is impossible else you an anti state line because this is betrayal. forces such things have happened in the history of our country and a relatively recent period of history. when people went abroad began to criticize their state that, you know, there is also a cultural code by the way, which is common across almost all countries. you can criticize anything inside your country. but if you've gone abroad, show that it's not right to scold your country to move. you can criticize the authorities of your country to him, but not in

a situation of war or an operation that is on the way it goes. there are people who are fighting with weapons in the hands for your country, for your future, for our fatherland, and thus you oppose yourself to these people who risk their heads, in fact, lay down their lives for it. well, this is how i feel about it. i used to go to panic, we'll talk about entrepreneurs about the business men to they have support amid the military offensive to taken into account the fact that now occasion number of measures have been taken against them. the houses vehicles york's marriage now have been taken from them. how do you feel about this taken into account? the fact that the west he is to say that private property should be honored. and in general, is it not to block accounting, populate how his refugees. but this will be unpleasant to any one who it is to get it and visit him, though, if we talk about business, this is also part of our society, including big business. they are, as they say, guilty without any guilt. that's also ourselves a question in general, really someone from this big business is to some extent capable of influencing a small fraction one iota on the position,

the countries leadership. i can tell you right away no, no way because we have different tasks. lovely. any one who manages the state 1st of all, focuses on the interests of the whole country on the interests of the people of russia. one who manages his own business. this is a very important task, only does this. therefore, the calculations that by limiting russian business they will somehow influence the authorities absolutely meaningless. they're simply stupid and also trying to influence the sectors of the economy that are behind this big business. and these are hundreds of thousands millions of people. if i were these sanctions, the western world is trying to influence the citizens of our country to help them. and of course, try to incitement to turn against the course of the states leadership against the course of the president in the hope that in the end it will result in some kind of trouble, some problems for the authorities. but it seems to me that these people who generate these decisions absolutely do not understand our mentality. they do not understand the asked you, the russian people, in the broadest sense of the word they do not understand the incentives. the when such pressure is applied in this pressure is not on large entrepreneurs, not

a big business. this is pressure on any one in every one. less sati is consolidated muscle. even those who are hard done by some way or believed that they were receive little support or some wrong decisions were made in this situation. say, well yes, yes, they probably made a mistake in something, but in general, in this situation, i will stand for the state of this. it seems to me that absolutely unable to understand just that they were unable to understand 70 years ago. and 100 years ago and during various kinds of armed campaigns that were carried out, including against our country, all these kind of restrictions and deprivations. they only unite people a consolidate people, but did not divide them. and this is their main miscalculation. this is the weak spot of the stupid sanctions. them flubber missed the interview, but rescued sunk. that's a call that the council of europe type symptoms as dixons in russia for many years . come look, we said recently that there is not much holding us back now, particularly on the she of death penalty. russia has renounced capital punishment by exceeding to number of the council of europe conventions. since this is an

important issue for alan nation. here's my question. getting help from those in return to the death penalty it does russian need it was legit at the local. this is a very complex issue. it depends on the world view. in general, it's a philosophical and moral dilemma. there are divergent views on the death penalty, and it is natural. it's always been the case. there is one thing i know for sure. the russian constitutional court was definitely swayed in some of the rulings by the countries participation in the council of europe's conventions. these conventions are no longer binding for us. nevertheless, there are legal guidelines provided by the constitutional court on the issue, and this is complete the sovereign decision, not a direct outcome of our membership in the council of europe. this is an obvious implicit connection though. come here to die. there are no restrictions in this regard. however, is still a very thorny issue. there is not any illegal side to it, but also moral one. even the basic sources of religions provide opposing answers to this question. the religious view on this issue is one of the basic arguments surrounding debate on the death penalty in any country,

but in europe. abandoned capital punishment at some point. so did wait. unlike the us, china and a number of other countries, they still keep it as punishment for those who have committed particularly grave crimes. sure, 1st of all, murder again, to die international provisions and no longer binding. but there are domestic legal provisions set out by the constitutional court. they reflect the current crime right. if it does not get out of control, i believe this legal posture could remain the same, but legal postures and not eternal either. a shift in our society could force a revision of the legal posture, the decisions of the constitutional court, and not sacred writ. they may change. we've seen it throughout russia's history, the soviet union, abolish the death penalty after the war, but it did not last long. and the death penalty was restored pretty fast. yes. was due to a spike in violent crimes, and the mud is, i don't know how it will pan out going forward still wouldn't foolish in his nice english college. but also mister medford, of do you think a lot about the prussia that russian nationals now have to deal with abroad?

w. often they face real danger, but what i saw a video online, shown what happened to the russian embassy, an island. i lived there for a bit as a kid, my father was posted the and it was covenant spray paint and a dr. crushed his carnes of the gates. it's just unimaginable something like this could happen to any russian national abroad. meanwhile, the u. n. says the a ceasefire. ukraine would bring the levels of rus a phobia down what you will take on that position. and does this connection make sense and as the meaning of what we're misled through. yeah, no, i wouldn't call it the u. n. position the u. n. is an international organization comprised of more than $200.00 nation states. if we're talking about what the un official said, well, that may be, so let me openly say that recently to you and governing bodies, the secretary general guitarist as well. have made several statements that i would call questionable, from the point of view of international law, nearly un should be above conflicts instead of taking sides. of course, the levels of risk of phobia these days are through the roof. as we've already discussed. these are manifested in the form of attacks on russian people and

pressure exerted on our diplomatic missions, or what is there to say on the subject. if we take diplomatic missions, the responsibility lies with the country where the diplomatic mission is located. this is the house countries task. as soon as the host country becomes indifferent to the fate of an embassy, diplomatic ties, a usually a, the suspended or severed. so the incident in dublin that you mentioned is fully islands responsibility. they just have to take proper steps in response to it happens the ordinary people to i see it and read about it. it's clear from the online social media content where they criticize rush or a lot, i guess it's to do the current events, some genuinely feel that way. some are doing of the high. but because every one else does, it is the own personal choice soon or later the tide will subside. but that's how it works. but the memories will remain. we will remember it to including the russian pay, who got stuck a broad $1.00 on vacation or on a business trip will be etched in every one's memory. they say they don't want russians there, and it's only natural that our people who happened to be abroad at the time will remember that. i doubt that they will think higher of europeans now than they used

to put about hospitality tolerance neutrality that you spoke off of it evaporated instantly, which means it never existed in the 1st place. it means there was no culture and no values. it was just a facade, and now it's all the filth has come to the surface, which will say the behavior of every person, spearing russia, phobic ideas. we will remember it too. we won't forget anyone who did it in their official capacity or just in personal interactions. these days everything is recorded. we will have a digital footprints that something everyone should remember when they write nasty things about russia. our policies are our people will be engraved in our people's collected memory forever and i'm not exaggerating yet. ah oh, a

with industry to restock and just look up from when literally a muscle is around noon. she kitty doesn't being military and show on a nurse to me as possible. mama could go through 6th grade to somebody to look at that. i put his ashley. uh, this is one of the most of the biggest pieces goes down to come here from one to please this sort of cool position with you, but now it's not. but the thing for the chain of times to metal for phone is that right? something to do that week are at that point, did that with that? oh, is your media a reflection of reality in

the world transformed what will make you feel safer? isolation for community. are you going the right way? or are you being led to somewhere? which direction what is true? what is faith in the world corrupted. you need to descend a join us in the depths or remain in the shallows. ah

ah ah ah, you must understand the lead george some kind of democracy with which has to with jacob stein x a part of my daughter. so the good peace is friendship of me. good already under billy all fresh was bottled through more. i reaction in my ah

so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy even foundation, let it be an arms race group is often very dramatic development. only personally, i'm going to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very difficult time to sit down and talk with

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that you for that reason yet. digital for no oxygen. i was oh, let's talk about some now since you mentioned lighting specialist has been greatly affected and who will get assistance. but i won't ask you about our athletes. what's happening to them as unprecedented. they're not allowed to compete till they're forced to do so under unusual flag. they're pressured into signing petitions and making statements. well, how's it's in some sports in athens, cree sleeping, but this kid won't rush hands up on the sidelines of international sports. him competition is very important. it's crucial for athletes to go up against talented opponents of i. now it seems that the dope in scandal was just a trial run. it will blow 1st. let me say that of course it's tough on athletes.

same as i t specialist, but for the latin the challenges started fairly recently when our friends started trying to restrict us in every way and erect and, and cut. and when it comes to finances and law fatima, the situation has been di since 2014. you're right, i face train hard and they're not allowed to compete. if they are, they have to basically compete anonymously. no russian flag, no russian anthem, that forced to distance themselves from their country, saying that they only represent themselves. this is cynical and a moral, and don't even get me started on the i see decision regarding our paralympic team. it's simply incomprehensible. it's monstrous and disgraceful. so a main goal is to support paraphrase, to make sure they feel involved in social life on par with every one else. but they get told no, your government is awful. and so we don't care about your ditches that goes against any moral code. i think that the i o c behaved in the worst way possible here with both companies. yes. it all started 8 years ago with the doping scandals. we admitted that we had a doping problem in our country. we are at fault here,

but saying that russia, i mean russian coaches and athletes were the only.