Vladimir Putin’s “despicable” plan to squeeze Europe’s energy supplies “is going to cause some real hardship,” says Kurt Volker, a US diplomat who served as the US special representative for Ukraine negotiations under Donald Trump.
But while Europe may face a tough winter, Ukrainians are paying “with their lives,” he says. “We have to have a sense of urgency, even if it means a bit higher prices.”
Volker joined Biresh Banerjee on Conflict Zone to discuss how NATO could do more to help Kyiv defeat Moscow, and why Putin’s regime might also face a reckoning from inside Russia.
“Pressures are building as a result of the war effort and not going well for Russia [and] as a result of sanctions,” says Volker.
“Something may snap and we should not be afraid of that.”
Watch the interview and let us know what you think below, or join us on Twitter –
Conflict Zone is Deutsche Welle’s top political interview. Every week, our hosts Tim Sebastian and Sarah Kelly are face to face with global decision-makers, seeking straight answers to straight questions, putting the spotlight on controversial issues and calling the powerful to account.
Subscribe:
For more news go to:
Follow DW on social media:
►Facebook:
►Twitter:
►Instagram: For German language videos visit: #dwZone #Russia #NATO
source
Russia is not a threat to no country entry I have not seen Russia going to war with any other country except except Ukraine Wayne and the Ukraine war was started by us in the United States We're the ones that have been fighting and destroying other countries for over 60 years cause that's the only way we make money better The CIA pentagon and the White House
Why is Europe panicking about this? They wanted the Russian oil and gas to get out of Europe, Russia is helping them with it. It's all going according to their plan.
Kremlin's despicable plan? Kremlin's? Are you sure?
Seversk is almost Russian. Ukranians run again
How NATO can fail Ukraine? Is Ukraine a NATO member? Ukraine that had wasted all it had inherited from USSR. It can't produce artillery shells itself these days, for God sake!
If Worker wants to step "support" he can do so out of his own private pocket. Not our taxes!
Let EU lift sanctions against Russia and all their problems could go away. Russia is justified to be in Ukraine to protect democracy. Ask how? In Ukraine, there are two political groups, one that wants Ukraine to join EU in the western side of the country and one that wants Ukraine to remain independent in the Eastern side. However, when forced to choose, the Eastern side democratically chose self determination and independence. Russia is protecting that Choice and the western politicians are sending weapons to suppress that democratic choice. So, what is western democracy if the western democracies don't want people in Eastern Ukraine to make their democratic choice?
Well, nobody expected unwavering support to Ukraine's Freedom from Vichy France or 4ht russian-gas'n'midnight-oil-Raich, let alone tr**p's republicans… But UK Will Stand With Ukraine, Bojo or no Bojo. And UK lose no wars. Ofcourse US support is all but essential. So we (peace-lovin' populus of this Earth) rely on Americans' common sense not to vote insane person once again, which could be end of Democracy and this World as we know it. God (US favourite super-hero) knows that d.t***p came very close to that goal, and nothing less then provided this maniac v.v.p. means for his deranged war; so it should be well advised not to go that road again. СЛАВА УКРАIНИ !!!
And Armenia as well is occupied
Kurt Volker is talking out of fantasy and Russophobic , the fact on the ground proved otherwise .
The West as whole is a big hole , EU started the Russian oil and gas sanction and now blame it on the Russian .
DW is garbage.
Do you expect Russia not to retaliate after the most massive sanctions imposed on them by the West, which include sovereign reserves and assets freeze? When the US and its vessels such as Germany imposed sanctions to destroy the Russian economy, didn't they consider that kind of action to be despicable?
Despicable? When you're sending her enemies weapons. Cmon guys
How is it “despicable”?
The NATO countries have taken very hostile actions toward Russia despite Russia being zero threat to them. They have done this to interfere in the military operations in Ukraine. Of course Russia has the right to retaliate.
EU Germany should not have double crossed Russia with the likes of Biden ,Anthony Blinken US administration to apply energy sanction on german russian friendly diplomatic business economic ties which is considered an act of war well before 24th Feb 2022 the fact is the US was envious of GERMANY's GDP which has surpassed the UNITED STATES by a big margin because of the German Russian joint ventures , RUSSIA is now doing whatever it can protect its economic interest from proxy malicious attacks from unconscientious EU US NATO unethical colluding leaders !!!!
Once Putin is gone, the world will likely return to normal, but in the meantime, tough shitsky…
In 2008 I research Europe's energy dependence on Russia. This was in the making since then. What is this fuss about it? It is a well thought out plan by Putin.
This NATO school boy no idea what he is talking about.
Go send your own kids to the front line.
I don't think so
Well, boys and girls, I hope we've all learned an important lesson about doing business with fascists. You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Rússia is demoralized Worldwide
Putin is a criminal with crimes against humanity.
You mean that plans to completely destroy Russian economy are not despicable?
Putin’s balls have been cold for so long he demands everyone else’s balls also be cold
You picked a fight with Russia, yet you say it is unfair they retaliate ?
W*nkers !!!
The West is so totally out of touch with reality.
US wants europeans to buy their costly oil and weapons to boost their economy. Now foolish EU countries will end up in importing russian oil from India and Saudi Arabia.
There are other ways to warm up europe.
Just give Ukraine back their nuclear weapons.
COVID was a walk in park. If a flu frightened u then u better buy some nappies asap for what is comming in October.
Do people still trust their leaders? Not much from A Merkle, Obama, Stienmieier, Scholz ? They have no comment.
This is not a matter of life or death for energy hungry Germany.
A deep ressession is not life threatening. Why not practice what u preach and reduce your energy needs, yes that means rations……efficiency, why not use your green energy?
It ok u will survive unlike people of Ukraine who fear for their lives.
You've put all kinds of sanctions on Russia and now you call their countermeasures despicable? What could be more despicable than that?
Europe said: we dont need oil, gas, etc.. Russia just said ok 🤣
NATO needs to get together and declare war on russia, invade Ukraine, kill every f***ing orc in Ukraine and then go after putin
This is my opinion. All of nato should give the Ukraine all the weapons they need now! Don’t wait until it’s to late. Russia is going to stop supplying gas to all the countries that need gas for the winter. My question is then what’s going to happen then. Hurt Russia hard and fast now. China is looking very close now how the west is responding to this war. So far Russia is giving hints of nuclear response. And at the same time trying to gain allies. India has shown that they want to stay out this. In my opinion give the Ukraine what they need. Russia will have no choice but turn to China for help. Maybe then India will join nato. India and U.S. have the same enemy. China is looking real close! Nato has to grow some balls! Winter is coming. Do it while you still have some time. Well this is my opinion.
america threatens germany with sanctions if they accept the nord stream 2 pipeline to stop the russian oil, germany and america illegally invade ukraine to stop the russian oil, america places sanctions to stop the russian oil, are you really really sure this is russia's energy war? Seriously?
He's literally bombing other people so whining about energy being stopped seems kinda pathetic.
Zelensky: We are not losing the War It’s Just a Glitch in the Matrix.
Zelensky’s Ukrainian Cities and Towns Taken by Russia
2016-01-01 – 2018-02-01
2022-02-24 – 2022-08-13
Udi, Donetsk, Horlivka, Debaltseve, Dokuchaievsk, Yenakiieve, Zhdanivka, Khrestivka , Makiivka, Snizhne, Chystiakove, Khartsyzk, Shakhtarsk Ridkodub, Yasynuvata, Bulavynske, Vuhlehirsk, Oleksandrivske, Olenivka, Vesela Dolyna, Danylove, Illinka, Kamianka, Bulavyne, Hrozne, Kaiutyne, Vozdvyzhenka, Krasnyi Pakhar, Stupakove, Savelivka, Debaltsivske, Komuna, Kalynivka, Lohvynove, Novohryhorivka, Nyzhnie Lozove, Sanzharivka, Olkhovatka, Pryberezhne, Dolomitne, Travneve, Lozove, Andriivka, Dolia, Liubivka, Malynove, Molodizhne, Novomykolaivka, Nova Olenivka, Petrivske, Chervone, Pikuzy, Kreminets, Luhanske, Oleksandrivka, Staromykhailivka Syhnalne, Vesele, Bétmanove, Krasnyi Partyzan, Mineralne, Spartak, Yakovlivka, Kruta, Balka, Kashtanove, Lozove, Vasylivka, Alchevsk, Antratsy, Brianka, Holubivka, Khrustalnyi, Sorokyne, Pervomaisk, Rovenky, Dovzhansk, Kadiivka, Sokilnyky, Berezivske, Holubivske, Zholobok, Kalynove, Kalynove-Borshchuvate, Kruhlyk, Molodizhne, Mius, Novooleksandrivka, Chornukhyne, Zolote, Burchak-Mykhailivka, Lobacheve, Mykolaivka, Sukhodil Sevastopol. Horlivka, Debaltseve, Dokuchaievsk, Yenakiieve, Zhdanivka, Khrestivka, Makiivka, Snizhne, Torez, Khartsyzk, Shakhtarsk, Yasynuvata, Bulavynske, Vuhlehirsk, Oleksandrivske, Olenivka, Vesela Dolyna, Danylove, Illinka, Kamianka, Ridkodub, Bulavyne, Hrozne, Kaiutyne, Vozdvyzhenka, Stupakove, Savelivka, Debaltsivske, Kalynivka, Lohvynove, Novohryhorivka, Nyzhnie, Lozove, Sanzharivka, Olkhovatka, Pryberezhne, Andriivka, Dolia, Liubivka, Malynove, Molodizhne, Novomykolaivka, Olenivka, Petrivske, Chervone, Kreminets, Luhanske, Oleksandrivka, Staromykhailivka, Syhnalne, Khreshchatytske, Novoazovsk, Huselshchykove, Kozlivka, Samsonove, Siedove aka: Kryva Kosa, Obryv, Bezimenne, Vedenske, Kachkarske, Mytkovo-Kachkari Roza, Kozatske, Porokhnia, Shevchenko, Kulykove, Verkhnoshyrokivske, Prymorske, Naberezhne Pervomaiske, Sosnivske, Ukrainske, Hrechani, Pody, Vesele, Kuznetsi, Markyne, Patriotychne, Kholodne, Samiilove, Vaniushkyne, Klynkyne, Kovske, Shcherbak Sakhanka, Azov, Uzhivka, Khomutove, Bessarabka, Vitava, Siedovo-Vasylivka, Boikivskii, Bohdanivka, Vershynivka, Volia, Hrekovo-Oleksandrivka, Hryhorivka, Dersove, Zaporozhets, Zelenyi Hai Zernove, Zori, Ivanivka, Bilokrynýchne, Kaplany, Konkove, Kotliarevske, Maiórove, Kuznetsovo, Lukove, Mykolaivka, Mykhailivka, Michurine, Nova Marivka, Novooleksandrivka, Oleksándrivske, Chyrylianske, Pervomaiske, Petrivske, Lavrýnove, Rozivka, Sadky, Samsonove, Svobodne, Tavrycheske, Boikivske, Ternivka, Cherevkivske, Chumak, Shevchenko, Vesele, Bétmanove, Mineralne, Spartak, Yakovlivka, Kruta Balka, Kashtanove, Lozove, Luhansk, Alchevsk, Antratsyt, Brianka, Holubivka, Khrustalnyi, Sorokyne, Pervomaisk, Rovenky, Dovzhansk, Kadiivka, Sorokyne, Sokilnyky, Berezivske, Holubivske, Zholobok, Kalynove, Kalynove-Borshchuvate Kruhlyk, Molodizhne Mius, Novooleksandrivka, Chornukhyne, Dovzhánsk, Burchak-Mykhailivka, Lobacheve, Mykolaivka
NATO is sending weapons to kill Russians and then they complain about getting their energy cut off
Nord Stream 2 ??
Europe will be an apocalyptic frozen wasteland this winter. I pray for the people of Europe. The great filter is near
Tim Sebastian is an excellent moderator of Conflict Zone. Now the interview has lost sharpness, directness and intrigue