putin, youion with would ask why i had some many meetings. >> why? >> he was deputy mayor of st. petersburg. -- he was not a can you asaid to him an old kgb person explain to me why gorbachev rejected negotiating about eastern europe and then gave it for nothing six months later? and he considered that a hugely significant remark. hasis view is that russia indicated, because of the incompetence of its leadership, and it gave up 300 years of its and they are right back .o where they started so he wants to restore -- >> how does he carry that agenda? you said that you don't believe that he wanted to take over ukraine or he realized he couldn't because the west reacted. he wants a eurasian bloc, the state of the former soviet union , plus what all girls -- plus whatever else is available. and then that would probably give him the option of playing with russia and playing with europe -- playing with china and playing with europe. >> what do you make of this? many people have said at this table and said to me he has more leverage than we do at this moment. there has been an influence

put, youions obama can't see it today. sooner or later, the sanctions will cost russia.hey will have to turn around. host: thanks for the call. last word on all this. a simple question. how much blood and treasure do we want to spend when the last two wars are still costing us? thanks for your calls and comments. your reaction to the sanctions. president putin speaking at this hour in moscow. front page of today's chicago sun-times. the homestretch. primary day in illinois. joining us on the phone is the washington bureau chief for the sun-times. we appreciate you joining us. guest: good morning from chicago. me ask you about governor quinn. who will he face? it's a four-way republican primary. comesll is showing bruce in as the front runner. host: there was a lot of -- has bill daley pledged his support for governor quinn? guest: he has not taken a role in the primary. once he dropped out, the point quinn had the best luck because not only did bill daley lisa decided not to run. s, who both come --m big political families they decided not to run. host: as you look at th