“The Putin Interviews” by Oliver Stone
From the “Oliver Stone – The Putin Interviews” – a ‘must see!’.
The film is based on conversations recorded between July 2015 and February 2017.
There are of course many issues that are discussed in these interviews but relationship with USA, which Putin refers to as partners, is one of the prominent ones.
Here are few quotes:
Part 1:
time: 00:47:36
” I believe that if you think you are the only world power, trying to impose on the whole nation the idea of their exclusiveness, that creates an imperialistic mentality in society, which in turn requires an adequate foreign policy expected by society. And the country’s leaders are forced to follow this logic. And in practice this might go contrary to the interests of the Americans. That’s the way I see it. Because in the end it leads to problems and deficiencies. And it demonstrates it’s impossible to control everything.”
Part 3:
time: 00:24:54
“I see the threat. The threat consists in the fact that once NATO comes to this or that country, the political leadership of that country as a whole, along with its population, cannot influence the decisions of NATO takes, including the decisions related to stationing the military infrastructure. Even very sensitive weapons systems can be deployed. I’m also talking about the anti-ballistic missile systems. Right now a certain strengthening of American influence is being witnessed in Europe, partly due to Eastern European countries, because they are trying to resist the former dominating power of the Soviet Union. Right now it’s mirrored in Russia, but sooner or later this is going to stop.”
time: 00:26:00
“Through initiating the crisis in Ukraine they’ve [the Americans] managed to stimulate the attitude towards Russia, viewing Russia as enemy, as possible potential aggressor. But very soon everyone is going to understand, that there is no threat whatsoever emanating from Russia, either to the Baltic countries, or to Eastern Europe, or to Western Europe. And the stronger this misunderstanding is, the greater the desire is going to be to protect their [European] sovereignty and to fend for their national interests.
So this constant feeling of being under pressure, let me assure you, is something no one is happy about. Sooner or later this is going to have consequences if it’s going to stop. And it’s better if this happens through dialogue. Certainly you can try to use North Korea or some other countries to paint a darker picture, but I think what is needed right now is the transition to a new paradigm, a new philosophy for building relations among countries. And this paradigm should be based on respect for the interests of other countries, for sovereignty of other people, not just trying to intimidate them using some outer threat which can only be resisted with the help of the United States. This paradigm will have to cease sooner or later.”
time: 00:39:20
About involvement in Syria:
“We see what has happened in certain countries in the region. I refer in particular to Iran and Libya. Other countries are also in difficult situation. But in Libya and Iraq a tragedy has transpired. And that has happened due to forceful ousting of the current regimes, not simply ousted from power but actually eliminated. And we don’t want the same thing to happen in Syria.
Otherwise the whole region is going to be plunged into chaos. Moreover if the same thing as in Libya happens in Syria, the position of radical organisations, terrorist organisations, are going to be strongly solidified. Right now they are very strong because they control a vast part of the oil that is being extracted in that region. So they sell museum artifacts, cultural artifacts, and they also receive aid from abroad and they have grown very powerful. And we should prevent them from getting even stronger. Because they are trying to create Caliphate from Southern Europe extending to Central Asia.
Oliver Stone:”This is the biggest concern.”
Putin: “Yes, this is the biggest concern. But also we have some practical objectives. there are thousands of militants originating from former Soviet republics and from Russia fighting there. And they can get back to Russia. And we should prevent that from happening. All that combined has motivated us to take the measure that you are aware of.
At the same time, we fully understand that the current leadership of Syria has made certain mistakes in building relations in their own country. And that’s why before taking this decision, we have had a dialogue with President Assad. And he understands well many problems that the country is facing, and he is not just willing to engage in dialogue with the opposition groups – even the armed opposition – but he is also willing to work together with them to elaborate a new Constitution. He is ready to agree that early Presidential elections be put under international supervision.
…
“By the way, we re operating there [in Syria] at the invitation of Syrian government – so legitimately. And that signifies that we are acting in accordance with international law, in the United nations Charter, whereas all the other military forces can fly there in accordance with the existing international law either based on the decisions of the United Nations Security Council or at the invitation of the Government of the country. … But understanding, that we still say that we have a joint objective – fighting the international terrorism, and we are ready to cooperate with you [USA].
Full text of “The Putin Interviews” can be obtained here:
http://skyhorsepublishing.com/titles/13188-9781510733428-putin-interviews
WITH SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENTARY
Academy Award winner Oliver Stone was able to secure what journalists, news organizations, and even other world leaders have long coveted: extended, unprecedented access to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Putin Interviews are culled from more than a dozen interviews with Putin over a two-year span—never before has the Russian leader spoken in such depth or at such length with a Western interviewer. No topics are off limits in the interviews, which first occurred during Stone’s trips to meet with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in Moscow and most recently after the election of President Donald Trump.
Prodded by Stone, Putin discusses relations between the United States and Russia, allegations of interference in the US election, and Russia’s involvement with conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere across the globe. Putin speaks about his rise to power and details his relationships with Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump. The exchanges are personal, provocative, and at times surreal. At one point, Stone asks, “Why did Russia hack the election?”; at another, Stone introduces him to Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 Cold War satire “Dr. Strangelove,” which the two watch together.
Stone has interviewed controversial world leaders before, including Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, and Benjamin Netanyahu. But The Putin Interviews, in its unmediated access to one of the most enigmatic and powerful men in the world, can only be compared to the series of conversations between David Frost and Richard Nixon we now refer to as “The Nixon Interviews” of 1977.
The book will also contain references and sources that give readers a deeper understanding of the topics covered in the interviews and make for a more robust reading experience.
Reviews:
“Oliver Stone’s unprecedented interviews with Vladimir Putin will be a revelation to anyone influenced by the mass media’s years of demonizing Russia’s leader. The discussions in this book range from the personal to the political, from Russia to America, from little-known episodes to today’s international headlines. The Putin who emerges is deeply committed to Russia’s national interests, but in ways that should make him America’s essential national security partner—not, as is so often insisted, its ‘No. 1 enemy.’ Indeed, anyone concerned by the many crises afflicting our world today should seize this opportunity to hear directly from the most consequential national leader of the early twenty-first century.” —Stephen F. Cohen, Professor Emeritus of Russian Studies & Politics, New York University and Princeton University
“A historic and immensely important series of interviews…The central query in the Stone-Putin interviews is how matters [between the US and Russia] devolved to the current state of tension, and thus they are compelling as a key text for understanding this dangerous time…a point of suspicion and hostility not witnessed since the end of the Cold War…A rare candid glimpse into the mind of the powerful, both the ruler and the artist.” —From the Foreword by Robert Scheer, journalist and author of eight books, including They Know Everything About You
“Oliver Stone’s The Putin Interviews is a desperately-needed antidote to the anti-Russia hysteria gripping the US. When one takes the opportunity to spend time with Vladimir Putin through the interviews, one cannot help but see his humanity, intelligence, and complete lack of antipathy towards the US. Indeed, Putin constantly refers to the US as a ‘partner,’ and, in a humorous twist, frequently chides Stone for being too critical of the United States. After reading this book, one will wonder why we cannot view Russia in turn as a partner and a friend, especially at a time when our country is so in need of both.” —Daniel Kovalik, labor and human rights lawyer and the author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia
Praise for Oliver Stone:
“An uncommonly eloquent and informed artist who doesn’t back down from his opinions.”—Miami Herald
“Stone’s work…does succeed in reorienting our perspective.”—New York Times
“[Oliver Stone has] seized the zeitgeist, drive then conversation, inspired controversy.”—Variety
“Remarkable.”—Rotten Tomatoes
“Rabid gifts as a filmmaker.”—Rolling Stone
