was it like eastern europe first? when you read the discussions, internal deliberations before the london g-7 meeting, before gorbachev came, the u.s. position is to crack down on those western europeans who want rechannelannel -- western aid to the soviet union, to gorbachev, but president bush says no, we have to help eastern europe first. you touched on that. is it too far if we call it eastern europe first and soviet union second? and do you think gorbachev understood in 1991 that he would never get massive western aid, and if he did, why he continued to behave as if you would? >> i didn't hear that. what did you say? >> did gorbachev understand in 1991 that he was not going to get massive western aid? >> and if he didn't, why did he keep acting as if he did? >> i guess he understood after a while he wasn't going to get it. it took a great deal of determination and courage to ask for it in the first place. you know, initially i think it was other people around him who named numbers. gorbachev always put it more ge

he has now at this time, he abandoned his general neglect of eastern europe. even that neglect was built on a modesty of american policy. it is a big job for us to maintain the protection of western europe. and we cannot be preoccupied with eastern europe but he changed his mind in the early '50s and he said, we ought to promote everything to diminish the russian presence in eastern europe. and the only to do this is to diminish our very presence in western europe and in countries like in turkey and so forth, you know, which how can a country like turkey being part of the north atlantic alliance. what would he now think about poland and bulgaria and latvia? well, but you see he foresaw communism,alism, not was, is and continues to be the greatest danger both for the future of the world, also for europe and for his very native country, with which he was so deeply concerned. that's what he wrote about. you know, that's why he could be called, or actually i took the liberty of spending or devoting only one chapter of my book entitled "a conscience of america," but

ought to promote everything to diminish the russian presence in eastern europe, and the only to do this is to diminish our very presence in western europe and in countries like in turkey and so forth, you know, which how can a country like turkey being part of the north atlantic alliance. what would he now think about poland and bulgaria and latvia? well, but you see he foresaw that nationalism, not communism was, is and continues to be the greatest danger both for the future of the world, also for europe and for his very native country, with which he was so deeply concerned. that's what he wrote about. you know, that's why he could be called or actually i took the liberty of spending or devoting only one chapter of my book entitled a conscience of america, but this is not what i'm talking about. i'm coming at the very end of my remarks. i want to tell you that i do not know any other american who had this deep understanding of a western, of an atlantic civilization. how much the culture and the civilization of america cannot depart from its routes and its origins and connections from w

that sends large amounts of microscopic pollution particles into the atmosphere many cars in eastern europe are older diesels in germany on the other hand there are strict emissions limits it's possible that soon only new diesel cars will be allowed in german cities many car owners are selling their older diesel's now to secondhand dealers they're not willing to let cars that still hold a significant resale value get scrapped their then sold on through partners in eastern europe. the number of exported used diesels climbed from around one hundred ninety seven thousand in twenty sixteen to two hundred thirty three thousand and twenty seventeen that's an eighteen percent rise exports to eastern europe grew particularly strongly the export of sixteen thousand older diesels to ukraine in twenty seventeen was more than double the tally for the previous year sales to albania kosovo romania the czech republic and poland also rose well western european countries are going to be introducing even stricter emissions levels in the coming years most countries to the east changing their laws environmenta

seekers rather across eastern europe have experienced some very unique weather indeed in the russian town of sochi locals and tourists alike were left to will durant when they were met with that is right orange snowfields that's not a filter that we have on there they are actually orange mountainous regions in russia ukraine and romania were transformed into tain shereen tinted tundras and that was due to apparently sahara and sandstorms in fact the mars like landscapes were caused by sand pollen and dust particles mixing high up in the air and this combination then spread across north africa drifting across the mediterranean blending in with the snow here meteorologists state that this phenomenon occurs roughly every i here. a quick reminder now the top stories we're following for you here at russia slams decisions from both sides of the atlantic to expel diplomats a remarkable sign of unity with the u.k. this as a response to the poisoning of a former spy i'm for sale. and don't forget you can always give you news on the go just download our app from google play or from the apple s

we could offer protection to the central and eastern europe and europes enhe said i quote again years from now people will look back at the debate and wonder what all of the fuss was about and notice that nothing has changed in russia's relationship with west. and it is difficult i would argue to be more wrong richard was. now let's fast forward to where russia was led my putin. putinen primarily foreign policy ambition since becoming president has been to restore the soviet political and economic space. to understand russian thinking about this, with this is a very interesting map 237. it's a map of what i will call the russian view of the world. north is at the -- at the bottom. not at the top. so you're looking at europe as a russian, russian might see it in moscow. and what's very noticeable you look at the russia's western border it's thousands of miles of plains unprotected by bodies of water or amount of water so you know -- sure russia may be paranoid at time but -- paranoid a time but pair noidz have enemies. that pole i can invaded from the west. hitler invaded from the west

when i -- as a member of the armed services committee, i've travelled to eastern europe. when i was there in 2015, i was traveling with the chairman of the armed services committee, and shale share two quick anecdotes -- >> please. >> -- from that visit. the first is that we went to an anti-ballistic missile site. and one of the other members of the committee was very interested in selling a missile defense system for the anti-ballistic missile site. just to be clear, the abm site shoots down missiles, but now we want a missile site to protect the abm site. and, you know, the fear is that the russians could launch a sortie of fighters and come over and pretty quickly take this out. it's a legitimate fear. but after spending a few hours on the ground at this site, having lunch with the security guards and what not, i realized, you know, if russia wants to take this out, they don't need to send fighter jets in from moscow, they'll just send a couple of partisans with some satchel charges and take this thing out in a matter of minutes. a very, very low cost without hardly an

meanwhile the convert supply of weapons from south eastern europe continues. observers have noticed that a small airport in reoccur croatia has become a major hub for the flow of arms to the moves of the middle east. we have come here to find out what type of weapons are sourced by the us government and how they are transported. because for creation to launchers you can spot a bulgarian rug missiles you can spot mortar shells. yelena is a member of the balkan investigative reporting network together with the organized crime and corruption reporting project they have spent two years tracking the pentagon's secret weapon shipments into syria we have set up a joint investigation this one was produced in serbia it's ok our team a shingle up in the syrian battleground the u.s. government publishes information about federal contracts online. yelena and her colleagues have used this database to calculate the u.s. government's expenditure on soviet style weapons. since two thousand and fifteen until two thousand and twenty two pending and will spend or two point two b

believing it's a better deal than scrappage many of those sales are in cooperation with partners in eastern europe. the number of use diesels exported from germany climb from around one hundred ninety seven thousand in two thousand and sixteen to two hundred thirty three thousand the following year a rise of almost a fifth exports to eastern europe grew especially strongly some sixteen thousand older diesels ended up in ukraine in twenty seventeen more than twice as many as the year before. while western european countries looks set to introduce stricter limits on emissions in the coming years countries to the east appear less likely to change their laws environmental group greenpeace has highlighted the example of romania saying we have no pollution tax for cars which makes romania a heaven for old and pollution cars authorities don't encourage or support healthy alternatives and the government doesn't actually fight air pollution. as a result an increasing number of older diesels are ending up in the romanian capital bucharest an example of air pollution shifting across borders. starting on the

the threat to states in eastern europe that have a special relationship with russia. also, we have a special relationship now in the post-cold war era. as a member of the armed services committee i have traveled to eastern europe. 2015 i wasthere in traveling with the chairman of the armed services committee. i will share to quick anecdotes from that visit. the first is that we went to a ballistic missile site. one of the other members of the committee was very interested in selling a missile defense system for the anti-ballistic missile site. clear, the site shoots down missiles. now we want a missile site to protect that site. russiansis that the could launch fighters, come over, and quickly take us out. legitimate fear. after spending a few hours on the ground at this site, having lunch with security guards and whatnot, i realized that if russia wants to take us out there which is sent a couple of partisans with some satchel charges. cost without hardly any opposition. the point is that russia is thinking about warfare in a way that we are not used to thinking abou

that sends large amounts of microscopic pollution particles into the atmosphere many cars in eastern europe are older diesels in germany on the other hand there are strict emissions limits it's possible that soon only new diesel cars will be allowed in german cities many car owners are selling their old the diesel is now to secondhand dealers they're not willing to let cars that still hold a significant resale value get scrapped their then sold on through partners in eastern europe. the number of exported used diesels climbed from around one hundred ninety seven thousand in twenty sixteen to two hundred thirty three thousand and twenty seventeen that's an eighteen percent rise exports to eastern europe grew particularly strongly the export of sixteen thousand older diesels to ukraine in twenty seventeen was more than double the tally for the previous year sales to albania kosovo romania the czech republic and poland also rose well western european countries are going to be introducing even stricter emissions levels in the coming years most countries to the east changing their laws environme

. countries in eastern europe. start poking the bear, the bear will start fighting back. start. in terms of gas flows, it's a 2—way street. flows, it's a 2—way street. depends very much on gas revenue from western europe. from western europe. countries, and gas is more and more becoming a... becoming a... of course that thread is hollow and empty —— from russia. of course that thread is hollow and empty -- from russia. empty -- from russia. suddenly the us or the uk finds these russians buys? —— that threat. —— russian spies. why expelled them now? now? used for espionage and that should have been curtailed long ago. have been curtailed long ago. frankly there's some overdue steps here that have finally happened. of the allegations. you'll also find an explanation of what novichok nerve agents are. com/news. across the united states to call for tighter gun controls. who were killed in the florida school shooting exactly a month ago. here's our north america editor, jon sopel. all chant: hey-hey, ho-ho, the nra has got to go! it was with their hands up in terror after the florid

we don't want to admit this is a problem in eastern europe. that might suggest it's a problem i cared home. i think we could use this group here in america and it's something we should think about. the other comment i would make is congress is doing nothing. the problem is what congress is doing is more appropriate for the 19th century because we are funding the european assurance initiative. the problem is it's mainly doing 10 drills. we brought calls for tanks into poland a couple of years ago and the polish talk to us about this why were there in 2015 and they were thrilled. there were polls who said we were lining the roads with american flag saying we have been waiting for 60 years for you to show up with your tanks. it's not that this is unpopular. it's just that it's ineffective. you can imagine putin sitting back and sort of chuckling while he's doing much more sophisticated things to under minus at much lower costs. >> i think we should use the president's of u.s. congressmen here and see if you have any questions. please go ahead. i

putin yes but i also have said that we need to rethink the way in which nato has expanded into eastern europe and we need to try to negotiate a new security architecture with lattimer putin that would anticipate an end to nato expansion provided that putin would help resolve the ukraine and georgia crises and agree that all these countries can join the european union someday if they wish and if they're invited and if we can do that deal then we can sort of restart u.s. russia relations eliminate the sanctions and go to a more stable period in our history that's the kind of dialogue that i want to have well mr herman we have to take a short break but we'll be back in just a few moments states in. the most expensive fish in a will each one selling for tens of thousands of euros it continues to grow its entire life if it was thirty years old you might have a two ton fish out there and yet they don't get that big today because we're way too good to catch it. it's only when the over much larger mission was once the that was much more widely distributed we have politicians that are in office for a

which nato has expanded into eastern europe and we need to try to negotiate a new security architecture with lattimer putin that would anticipate an end to nato expansion provided that putin would help resolve the ukraine and georgia crises and agree that all these countries can join the european union someday if they wish and if they're invited and if we can do that deal then we can sort of restart u.s. russia relations eliminate the sanctions and go to a more stable period in our history that's the kind of dialogue that i want to have well mr hamlyn we have to take a short break but we will be back in just a few moments states in. the far right. isn't just on the march it's taking violent mother's action i don't like. you know i see these organizations which are all usually split into which we take different names how do you view the. complex web of which are. manufactured consent to public wealth. when the ruling classes to protect themselves. with the famous. be the one percent. we can all middle of the room sick. welcome back to worlds apart with michael o'hanlon senior fellow at t

putin yes but i also have said that we need to rethink the way in which nato has expanded into eastern europe and we need to try to negotiate a new security architecture with lattimer putin that would anticipate an end to nato expansion provided that putin would help resolve the ukraine and georgia crises and agree that all these countries can join the european union someday if they wish and if they're invited and if we can do that deal then we can sort of restart u.s. russia relations eliminate the sanctions and go to a more stable period in our history that's the kind of dialogue that i want to have well mr hamlyn we have to take a short break but we will be back in just a few moments stay tuned. how does it feel to be a sure of the greatest job in the world it's as close to being a king in the in a job that there is a good business model helps to run a prison now we do or don't like to see you know be video visitation they don't no one comes anymore we don't have to serve them anymore it's cost effective that's what they want to do that at the moment they don't give a damn if you do toward

sort of compromise that's the right vision for this zone of neutral countries in central and eastern europe and i think you know you mention the yes russia is a european country what i was trying to say before yes russia's european but it's also different it's distinct you can tell me if i'm wrong but i don't think that most russians and vision the european project the same way that some western europeans do where the nation state becomes weaker and less important over time especially five ten years ago a lot of west europeans thought the european union would ultimately become more important than the countries they lived in and there's been some pushback against that of course in britain and else. where but that's still part of the european project in the minds of some west europeans i don't know too many russians who think that way i believe russians want to be part of europe but also want to be their own entity the great power of you know eurasia and that the nation state is very important in the russian political consciousness and it's not getting weaker as history moves forward that's w

putin yes but i also have said that we need to rethink the way in which nato has expanded into eastern europe and we need to try to negotiate a new security architecture with lattimer putin that would anticipate an end to nato expansion provided that putin would help resolve the ukraine and georgia crises and agree that all these countries can join the european union someday if they wish and if they're invited and if we can do that deal then we can sort of restart u.s. russia relations eliminate the sanctions and go to a more stable period in our history that's the kind of dialogue that i want to have well mr hamlyn we have to take a short break but we will be back in just a few moments stay tuned. on. the most expensive fish in a will each one selling for the tens of thousands of euros it continues to grow its entire life if it was thirty years old you might have a two ton fish out there and yet they don't get that big today because we're way to good catching. it's only women themselves are much larger mission was once there was much more widely distributed we have politicians that are in of

look at what we're doing we're reinforcing our allies we're putting american combat brigades in eastern europe and poland and estonia latvia lithuania the russians know we're serious look we you know they've killed probably two hundred russians in syria a couple weeks ago no one's talking about that i don't think that would happen in the obama administration so i think president bush has to pay our taxes we present trump's take a tough line on the russians but rhetorically he's maybe dialed back a little to you know why would you guess what you know look you'd have to speculate why larry you know we don't know all the negotiations are taking place we don't know you know there are things going on in syria obviously where we need russian cooperation we need the conflict in syria we need to try and protect the civilians who are being slaughtered by bashar al assad in syria so there's a whole range of issues where we have to cooperate with the russians but there are also issues where we have to push back hard to meddle in our elections is one of those red lines where we do have to push back hard o

it makes a terribly dependent on russia and in fact a lot of eastern europe and in fact a lot of easterne almost 100% dependent on russia. this means that vladimir putin has a strong case in his hand when it comes to negotiating with various european countries when it comes to... so the other countries say they thought of support our point of view, but when reality comes, well... i think what ruthis reality comes, well... i think what ruth is saying, i'm sure, you know, they have to be careful, germany has to be careful, france has to be careful, but if it happened the way it looks, this is an attack on sovereignty and our partners have to stand up and they have to do it for national integrity and let the chips fall where they may actually, vladimir putin doesn't expect that to happen because part of what he is dealing with is dealing with dissension which is a natural state of democracy and he is coming in and trying to disrupt that so it has to be done. we do and how it will end but it has to be done. he has a very strong hand of cards. absolutely. however, the sunday times talking abo

eastern europe still pins great hopes on the initiative. in its inception the energy union was a response to a dispute between russia and ukraine. in the winter of two thousand and eight to two thousand and nine bug area rumania and slovakia had to resort to using wood fired oven so he xing. many factories were forced to interrupt production it was a hard winter with temperatures dipping down to minus fifteen degrees celsius in southeastern europe. russia had shut off all gas supplies through ukraine moscow claims that its neighbor had failed to pay for energy deliveries and was siphoning off energy sent through russian pipelines to this day kiev denies these accusations and says that russia's actions amounted to political and economic blackmail. countries like belgariad had no recourse children sat in freezing schools hospitals went on heated the european union learned a painful lesson the gas prices would have a lasting impact. many people have died because of them. to be complication we do like to go to say we're talking. from the suppor

we never made a commitment that we would not expand nato into eastern europe. we made a commitment that we would not station nuclear weapons on the territory of the former warsaw pact states. and we have kept that commitment. - [brzezinski] to say that we should freeze nato enlargement, would be another way to reward putin. to legitimize his polices. your basic meaning there would be a line of division. you will have countries who are not allowed to pursue their national interests because of russian dominion. - we urge russia to cease its destabilizing activities in ukraine and elsewhere. - [narrator] using sanctions on russia, some argue, would further integrate russia into the global economy. - our european friends understand that the more that we actually do economic business with russia that the more likely we are to have peaceful interactions that will make things better rather than make things worse. and they will not see that as a sign of weakness. - i think it's nonsense. honestly i don't see how removing sanctions, which would have the effect of acquie

motorists from eastern europe could unwittingly bring it into the country. half-eaten sausage sandwich tossed out of a car window and eaten by a wild boar could be all it takes. >> the likelihood of the didease reaching germany is very high. but the fewer wild boar there are, the less likely it is the disease will spread. as hunters, we have a responsibility to farmers and to society. >> the german farmers' association has called an emergency meeting. the kÜhlings are attending. according to conservationists, the expansion of corn production has boosted wild boar populations, increasing the risk of swine fever. the association president rejects the accusation. >> it's not just corn production, and this needs to be filled out -- spelled out, but a large number of conservation measures too that help wild boar feel at home here. >> the farmers' association has called for a 70% cull of the country's wild boar population. here in mecklenburg, the 41 hogs shot today were all healthy. >> we are hopefully helping ensure that the disease doesn't spread as fast as it

(machine guns shooting) - [narrator] as more nations in eastern europe have sought membership in nato, russia has reasserted itself, politically and militarily. - i don't agree at all with those people who blame nato for putin's truculence and aggressiveness. he's to blame for his own warped view of the world, not the united states, not germany, not france. - russia does, in fact, wish to dominate the countries around it, and then also make sure that democracies don't function, and to try to divide us, and undermine our institutional structure with false information, propaganda, and just generally, practicing a way to divide the democracies. - they're playing what a lot of people would say is a weak hand, very deftly. we maneuvered them out of the middle east, dr. kissinger did in 1973. they're back. they have a seat at the table in ways that probably their military strength doesn't warrant. - [narrator] china is rising as well. it is second only to the united states in military spending. (suspenseful music) it has made territorial claims in the south china sea, in violation of intern

sold on through partners in eastern europe. the number of exported used diesels climbed from around one hundred ninety seven thousand in twenty sixteen to two hundred thirty three thousand in twenty seventeen that's an eighteen percent rise exports to eastern europe grew particularly strongly the export of sixteen thousand older diesels to ukraine in twenty seventeen was more than double the tally for the previous year sales to albania kosovo romania the czech republic and poland also rose while western european countries are going to be introducing even stricter emissions levels in the coming years most countries to the east changing their laws environmental groups are now ringing below. we have no pollution tax for cars which makes romania a haven for old and polluting cars authorities do not encourage or support healthy alternatives and the government doesn't actually fight air pollution so more and more older diesels are ending up in for example the rumanian capital book arrest the diesel air pollution problem is being prof

russia has violated its international norms with its aggression against our closest allies in eastern europe. more furtively it spreads this information and engages in cyber attacks it meddles in democratic elections throughout europe as it did in the united states solidarity on this front tira freedom is more important than ever it's everything really so here you've spent years covering nato especially its expansion into eastern europe what do you make then of paul ryan speaking to the czech parliament about russia i think those are some very clear terms coming from washington about the conclusions that they finally come to on russia's intentions to to meddle in foreign policy here in europe and in elections as well as in the united states again i think it remains to be seen what kind of effect these expulsions will have on russia's intention of making things right with this all very attack nato and other countries have said they haven't shown any constructive attitude in trying to resolve this case however that may or may come out but i think that this is intense momentum of pressure on mo

i have a general question concerning eastern europe. i do not expect a deep dive answer. you mentioned a team approach to nations in europe. from your perspective, what are she eastern european nation wanting and needing? what do they want diplomatically, militarily, information stood sharing -- information sharing? what are they wanting, what we provide? i probably need to focus most on the military aspect of that. is, they want a close partnership. they recognize our leadership in our capabilities. to have a post partnership so they can also develop their capabilities. militarily and otherwise? >> diplomatically etc.. those nations are greater allies. they are small. they're working very hard. they are the ones that are above 2% very quickly. they are investing in the capabilities that they believe they need to nest with ours. that is what we need to continue to do. we need to continue to help them in that regard. our presence there reinforces their populations. to be natoion members in some cases or to align with the west generally. obviously all those things intertwine

a lot of people in europe especially in eastern europe and baltic states as well as and poland and ukraine and romania and so on. they all fear a new cold war and war on. and so maybe that is all these concerns. are also fed by the russian behavior in the last year but the if you. think but still turn and that is my hope i mean that i snored story and don't buy both but right but that's my whole point the first pipeline first north stream didn't cause the cold war did it why would the second one but it's all about money it's all about. the prophet not always i didn't say that nazri of tourists is is causing it to say but the russian behavior against craven. things changed in the last years there are also hostile activities on the baltic sea and in the air which we fought both that we have not anymore and they. remember i was my crew up at the cold war so i know what happened instead and i think. russia should change its behavior in this on this sector i mean i feel like there are double standards here because of course i understand europe or germany are worried about the whole political si

the countries and europe or in eastern europe so hopefully. we will have an additional increasing off to security of supply so of course when it comes to gas and oil and energy in general it. oftentimes becomes a political thing for instance the polish prime minister says nordstrom too as a political project aimed at undermining central europe there's a ukrainian member of parliament his comparing the annus to today molecule ribbentrop pact in the thirty nine how are statements like that affecting the project's perception in your country in germany. we say and we think it's not to put it to go pro checked it's private approach it's privately motivated it's privately financed there is no public finance if you look maybe to what the post polish government now at the moment tries to add to this that pollution. elenchi terminal they have lent you to i mean one day old so on to build a new pipe and that this system may be or will be supported for example by the european union and i welcome this brooch act as well because also it diversifies their r