'Putin Has Lost His War In Ukraine' Says Amb. Michael McFaul - The Last Word - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

President Biden says the rhetoric coming out of Russian officials shows 'desperation,' and the president asks Congress to approve a massive $33 billion aid package for Ukraine. MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell speaks to former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. Aired on 04/28/2022.

[brer cat]

1. Interesting segment.

I am sometimes discouraged because Ukraine was such an underdog at the beginning of Putin's invasion, but I think Amb. McFaul is correct that we underestimated the Ukrainian will to fight and Zelenskyy's strong leadership.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Same here!

My heart breaks for these people who are suffering so profoundly from an unprovoked genocidal war just because they expect to go about their lives in freedom. But, as he says, Amb. McFaul knows much more than we do, he's still in touch daily with his contacts, gets the inside news - and he speaks the language. So I believe him and this gives me hope...

[tclambert]

3. Okay, now we need to figure out a way to get Putin to pay for the damage he's done.

The property damage in Ukraine must total over $100 billion.

I propose we turn over the frozen accounts of Putin and his oligarch buddies to Ukraine as reparations. Leave Putin and his cronies broke as well as humiliated.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Isn't he already heading for broke after losing most of his oil customers?

Not to mention selling the assets of his oligarch buddies to provide additional weapons for Ukraine? Biden spoke on this yesterday...

[tclambert]

5. My understanding is that we have frozen a lot of his assets, but not seized them.

He may hope after he takes part of Ukraine and declares victory that the West will unfreeze the accounts and forgive him for everything that happened. Susan Collins will be all concerned and hope that Vlad "learned his lesson" and won't do anything like this again.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. You're probably right, the U.S. is known for "doing the right thing," but in his case, this isn't it

In this case, war crimes and genocide aren't likely to be "forgiven." And Putin just keeps digging himself in deeper...

And you're also right on Susan Collins. She was right that TFG had "learned a valuable lesson" after the impeachment hearings - but it wasn't the one that she meant...

[Eyeball_Kid]

7. This assumes that a fantasy is true.

Russia is NOT defeated. Russia has NOT quit committing genocide. Russia is still bombing the shit out of UKR.

Russia is NOT negotiating a peace because there can be no peace except by Russia's complete defeat. Russia has nothing to negotiate except for land that they already stole from UKR. UKR peace will commence when Russia is driven out of all UKR territory and prevented from returning. Further, all Russian aggression onto UKR soil must be held to account and UKR must be compensated. How's that for a peace deal?