The Daily

Putin’s Endgame: A Conversation With Fiona Hill

Mar 11, 2022
Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a veteran adviser to three U.S. presidents, shares her insights on Vladimir Putin and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. She discusses how Putin’s perceptions of the West impact his decisions. Hill highlights the tragic humanitarian situation in cities like Mariupol and the influence of rising inflation in the U.S. She also examines President Zelensky's evolving leadership and the complexities of negotiating peace, while stressing the need for a deeper understanding of Ukrainian identity in these turbulent times.
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ANECDOTE

Zelensky's Identity

  • Zelensky's identity as a Russian-speaking Jew challenges Putin's narrative of a homogenous Russian world.
  • Hill suggests Putin's worldview struggles to accommodate complex identities like Zelensky's.
INSIGHT

Putin's Aspirations

  • Putin's objectives in Ukraine seem to be punishing the country and the West for not aligning with his vision.
  • He aims to install a puppet government and achieve maximalist demands regarding territory and neutrality.
ANECDOTE

Putin's Office Décor

  • Fiona Hill describes Putin's office décor, featuring statues of Russian historical figures.
  • She interprets this as a sign of Putin identifying himself with powerful figures, similar to "Jerusalem Syndrome".
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