>> THANK YOU BOTH. THAT IS ALL IN FOR THIS EVENING.
THAT IS ALL IN FOR THIS EVENING. THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW STARTS
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW STARTS RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> GOOD EVENING, MY FRIEND.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY FRIEND. MUCH APPRECIATED.
MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR
THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US THIS HOUR.
JOINING US THIS HOUR. YOU ALMOST NEVER GET FOOTAGE OF
YOU ALMOST NEVER GET FOOTAGE OF THESE THINGS RIGHT AS THEY’RE
THESE THINGS RIGHT AS THEY’RE HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. EVEN IF GET FOOTAGE OF THESE
EVEN IF GET FOOTAGE OF THESE CONFRONTATIONS, IT’S OFTEN FROM
CONFRONTATIONS, IT’S OFTEN FROM SOME GREAT DISTANCE OR THROUGH
SOME GREAT DISTANCE OR THROUGH SOME, YOU KNOW, GRAINY
SOME, YOU KNOW, GRAINY SURVEILLANCE INTERFACE, AND YOU
SURVEILLANCE INTERFACE, AND YOU KIND OF NEED A NARRATOR TO
KIND OF NEED A NARRATOR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON, IN
FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON, IN THIS CASE WE GOT SOMETHING VERY
THIS CASE WE GOT SOMETHING VERY RARE.
RARE. WE GOT UP CLOSE LIKE CINEMA VARI
WE GOT UP CLOSE LIKE CINEMA VARI VARITAE YOU ARE THERE FOOTAGE.
VARITAE YOU ARE THERE FOOTAGE. YOU COULD EVEN HEAR LIKE THE
YOU COULD EVEN HEAR LIKE THE RUSSIAN SWEARING IN THE
RUSSIAN SWEARING IN THE BACKGROUND.
BACKGROUND. >> RUSSIA’S NAVY CHASING THREE
>> RUSSIA’S NAVY CHASING THREE UKRAINIAN SHIPS.
UKRAINIAN SHIPS. THIS VIDEO APPEARING TO SHOW THE
THIS VIDEO APPEARING TO SHOW THE MOMENT OF IMPACT.
MOMENT OF IMPACT. ONE SHIP RAMMED, SHOTS WERE
ONE SHIP RAMMED, SHOTS WERE FIRED.
FIRED. THE SHIP SEIZED.
THE SHIP SEIZED. TWO DOZEN UKRAINIAN’S SAILORS
TWO DOZEN UKRAINIAN’S SAILORS CAPTURED RUSSIAN WAR PLANES
CAPTURED RUSSIAN WAR PLANES THREATENING ABOVE.
THREATENING ABOVE. THE UKRAINIAN SHIPS WERE HIT AT
THE UKRAINIAN SHIPS WERE HIT AT THE NARROW STRAIT BETWEEN RUSSIA
THE NARROW STRAIT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CRIMEA WHICH IT ILLEGALLY
AND CRIMEA WHICH IT ILLEGALLY ANNEXED.
ANNEXED. RUSSIA NOW CLAIMING THESE WATERS
RUSSIA NOW CLAIMING THESE WATERS IT ITS TERRITORY AND BLAMING
IT ITS TERRITORY AND BLAMING UKRAINE FOR PROVOKING THE
UKRAINE FOR PROVOKING THE INCIDENT.
INCIDENT. >> THAT WAS A REPORT FROM NBC
>> THAT WAS A REPORT FROM NBC CORRESPONDENT BILL NEELY RIGHT
CORRESPONDENT BILL NEELY RIGHT AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED.
AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. WE ALSO GOT PUBLICLY RELEASED AT
WE ALSO GOT PUBLICLY RELEASED AT THE TIME, JUST A SORT OF AN
THE TIME, JUST A SORT OF AN AMAZING VIDEO FROM WHAT I THINK
AMAZING VIDEO FROM WHAT I THINK APPEARS TO BE MAYBE THE BRIDGE
APPEARS TO BE MAYBE THE BRIDGE OF ONE OF THE RUSSIAN SHIPS THAT
OF ONE OF THE RUSSIAN SHIPS THAT WAS INVOLVED.
WAS INVOLVED. IT WAS A VIDEO THAT WAS SHOT AS
IT WAS A VIDEO THAT WAS SHOT AS THIS THING WAS HAPPENING.
THIS THING WAS HAPPENING. >> THIS HAPPENED JUST A LITTLE
>> THIS HAPPENED JUST A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, SUNDAY
LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, SUNDAY NOVEMBER, 25, LAST YEAR, 2018.
NOVEMBER, 25, LAST YEAR, 2018. WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THAT A
WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THAT A RUSSIAN SHIP RAMMED INTO A
RUSSIAN SHIP RAMMED INTO A UKRAINIAN TUG, THEN THE RUSSIANS
UKRAINIAN TUG, THEN THE RUSSIANS OPENED FIRE ON THAT TUG THAT
OPENED FIRE ON THAT TUG THAT THEY JUST RAMMED, AND THEY
THEY JUST RAMMED, AND THEY OPENED FIRE ON TWO OTHER
OPENED FIRE ON TWO OTHER UKRAINIAN SHIPS.
UKRAINIAN SHIPS. THE RUSSIANS THEN SENT COMMANDOS
THE RUSSIANS THEN SENT COMMANDOS ONBOARD THE UKRAINIAN SHIPS THEY
ONBOARD THE UKRAINIAN SHIPS THEY HAD JUST RAMMED AND SHOT AT, AND
HAD JUST RAMMED AND SHOT AT, AND THEY TOOK THE CREW MEMBERS OFF
THEY TOOK THE CREW MEMBERS OFF THOSE SHIPS.
THOSE SHIPS. THEY TOOK TWO DOZEN UKRAINIAN
THEY TOOK TWO DOZEN UKRAINIAN SAILORS AS THEIR PRISONERS.
SAILORS AS THEIR PRISONERS. SOME OF THE UKRAINIANS WERE HURT
SOME OF THE UKRAINIANS WERE HURT BUT THEY TOOK THEM AS PRISONERS.
BUT THEY TOOK THEM AS PRISONERS. YOU SAW BILL NEELY SPELL THIS
YOU SAW BILL NEELY SPELL THIS OUT THE NIGHT IT HAPPENED.
OUT THE NIGHT IT HAPPENED. ON THIS MAP IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS.
ON THIS MAP IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN THAT’S THE WESTERN PART OF
THAT’S THE WESTERN PART OF RUSSIA.
RUSSIA. LEFT PART THAT’S THE SOUTH
LEFT PART THAT’S THE SOUTH EASTERN PART OF UKRAINE.
EASTERN PART OF UKRAINE. AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN
AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN BELOW THE OTHER PART OF UKRAINE,
BELOW THE OTHER PART OF UKRAINE, THAT’S CALLED CRIMEA, YOU CAN
THAT’S CALLED CRIMEA, YOU CAN SEE THE BLACK SEA THERE.
SEE THE BLACK SEA THERE. BUT IN BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE
BUT IN BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE PART OF UKRAINE THAT IS CALLED
PART OF UKRAINE THAT IS CALLED CRIMEA, YOU CAN SEE THERE’S THIS
CRIMEA, YOU CAN SEE THERE’S THIS TINY NARROW LITTLE STRAIT, WHICH
TINY NARROW LITTLE STRAIT, WHICH IS CALLED THE KIRGS STRAIT, AND
IS CALLED THE KIRGS STRAIT, AND NORTH OF THERE IS A DIFFERENT
NORTH OF THERE IS A DIFFERENT BODY OF WATER, THAT’S THE
BODY OF WATER, THAT’S THE NORTHERN EXTENSION OF THE BLACK
NORTHERN EXTENSION OF THE BLACK SEA.
SEA. AND ONCE UPON A TIME THE SEA OF
AND ONCE UPON A TIME THE SEA OF ASOF WAS A RELATIVELY NORMAL
ASOF WAS A RELATIVELY NORMAL THING, BUT 5 1/2 YEARS AGO
THING, BUT 5 1/2 YEARS AGO RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.
RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. AND THEY TOOK A WHOLE BIG CHUNK
AND THEY TOOK A WHOLE BIG CHUNK OF THE NATION OF UKRAINE.
OF THE NATION OF UKRAINE. THEY TOOK CRIMEA FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY TOOK CRIMEA FOR THEMSELVES. THEY DECIDED CRIMEA WAS NOW A
THEY DECIDED CRIMEA WAS NOW A PART OF RUSSIA.
PART OF RUSSIA. AND AFTER THEY DID THAT, AFTER
AND AFTER THEY DID THAT, AFTER THEY TOOK CRIMEA TO SORT OF
THEY TOOK CRIMEA TO SORT OF SOLIDIFY THEIR HOLD ON UKRAINE,
SOLIDIFY THEIR HOLD ON UKRAINE, RUSSIA BUILT A BIG WEIRD
RUSSIA BUILT A BIG WEIRD EXPENSIVE BRIDGE ACROSS THE
EXPENSIVE BRIDGE ACROSS THE STRAIT, AND UPON DOING SO, UPON
STRAIT, AND UPON DOING SO, UPON SEIZING CRIMEA FOR ITSELF AND
SEIZING CRIMEA FOR ITSELF AND BUILDING THIS BRIDGE BETWEEN
BUILDING THIS BRIDGE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CRIMEA AND PUTTING
RUSSIA AND CRIMEA AND PUTTING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY INTO THE
THE RUSSIAN MILITARY INTO THE OTHER PARTS OF EASTERN UKRAINE
OTHER PARTS OF EASTERN UKRAINE OUTSIDE OF CRIMEA, IN SO DOING
OUTSIDE OF CRIMEA, IN SO DOING RUSSIA APPARENTLY DECIDED NOT
RUSSIA APPARENTLY DECIDED NOT ONLY WERE THEY TAKING PARTS OF
ONLY WERE THEY TAKING PARTS OF UKRAINE FOR THEMSELVES, RIGHT,
UKRAINE FOR THEMSELVES, RIGHT, THEY WERE TAKING CRIMEA, THEY
THEY WERE TAKING CRIMEA, THEY WERE INVADING AND OCCUPYING
WERE INVADING AND OCCUPYING EASTERN UKRAINE.
EASTERN UKRAINE. NOT ONLY WERE THEY TAKING THOSE
NOT ONLY WERE THEY TAKING THOSE PARTS OF UKRAINE’S TERRITORY FOR
PARTS OF UKRAINE’S TERRITORY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT THEY WERE ALSO
THEMSELVES, BUT THEY WERE ALSO TAKING THE SEA BETWEEN THE TWO
TAKING THE SEA BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
COUNTRIES. THEY WERE ALSO TAKING THE SEA OF
THEY WERE ALSO TAKING THE SEA OF ASOF.
ASOF. THEY BASICALLY DECIDED THEY
THEY BASICALLY DECIDED THEY WOULD TREAT THAT AS RUSSIAN
WOULD TREAT THAT AS RUSSIAN WATERS.
WATERS. THIS TIME LAST YEAR THERE’S
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THERE’S THESE THREE UKRAINIAN SHIPS FULL
THESE THREE UKRAINIAN SHIPS FULL OF UKRAINIAN SOLIERS, THEY
OF UKRAINIAN SOLIERS, THEY SETOFF ON THEIR JOURNEY AND
SETOFF ON THEIR JOURNEY AND THEY’RE GOING THROUGH UKRAINIAN
THEY’RE GOING THROUGH UKRAINIAN WATERS TO GET THERE ON THEIR
WATERS TO GET THERE ON THEIR JOURNEY, BUT RUSSIA SWOOPS IN,
JOURNEY, BUT RUSSIA SWOOPS IN, SHOOTS AT THEM, BOARDS THEIR
SHOOTS AT THEM, BOARDS THEIR VESSELS, SEIZES THEIR VESSELS
VESSELS, SEIZES THEIR VESSELS AND TAKES ALL THESE GUYS PRIZ
AND TAKES ALL THESE GUYS PRIZ PRISONER.
PRISONER. RUSH POT ALL THESE SAILORS IN A
RUSH POT ALL THESE SAILORS IN A PRISON IN MUSOSCOW.
PRISON IN MUSOSCOW. THAT’S WHERE THEY BROUGHT THESE
THAT’S WHERE THEY BROUGHT THESE UKRAINIAN
UKRAINIAN UKRAINIAN SAILORS THEY SHOT AT
UKRAINIAN SAILORS THEY SHOT AT AND INJURED.
AND INJURED. THEY ONLY LET THESE GUYS OUT OF
THEY ONLY LET THESE GUYS OUT OF PRISON THIS PAST MONTH IN A
PRISON THIS PAST MONTH IN A PRISONER EXCHANGE.
PRISONER EXCHANGE. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WORLD
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WORLD WAR II YOU HAD A COUNTRY ON THE
WAR II YOU HAD A COUNTRY ON THE BORDERS OF EUROPE, RIGHT, USING
BORDERS OF EUROPE, RIGHT, USING MILITARY FORCE TO SEIZE ANOTHER
MILITARY FORCE TO SEIZE ANOTHER COUNTRY’S LAND.
COUNTRY’S LAND. THAT WAS WHEN RUSSIA TOOK CRIMEA
THAT WAS WHEN RUSSIA TOOK CRIMEA FROM UKRAINE IN 2014.
FROM UKRAINE IN 2014. THEN HERE THEY WERE LESS THAN A
THEN HERE THEY WERE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO SEEING HOW MUCH FURTHER
YEAR AGO SEEING HOW MUCH FURTHER THEY COULD PUSH IT, NOT JUST
THEY COULD PUSH IT, NOT JUST TAKING UKRAINE’S LAND BUT TAKING
TAKING UKRAINE’S LAND BUT TAKING THE SEA AS WELL IN 2018.
THE SEA AS WELL IN 2018. THIS IS REALLY BAD FROM THE
THIS IS REALLY BAD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTERNATIONAL
PERSPECTIVE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL LAW,
RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MODERN
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MODERN INTERACTIONS AMONG CIVILIZED
INTERACTIONS AMONG CIVILIZED STATES.
STATES. THIS IS VERY BAD RUSSIAN
THIS IS VERY BAD RUSSIAN BEHAVIOR HERE.
BEHAVIOR HERE. THIS IS SERIOUS CRISIS.
THIS IS SERIOUS CRISIS. NOW AS I MENTIONED THIS THING
NOW AS I MENTIONED THIS THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE SEA OF
THAT HAPPENED IN THE SEA OF ASOF, IT WAS A ABOUT YEAR AGO ON
ASOF, IT WAS A ABOUT YEAR AGO ON A SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
A SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ASKED ABOUT
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ASKED ABOUT THE CRISIS THE FOLLOWING DAY,
THE CRISIS THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.
THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. HE DID NOT SEEM THAT CONCERNED
HE DID NOT SEEM THAT CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT. >> WE DO NOT LIKE WHAT’S
>> WE DO NOT LIKE WHAT’S HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. EITHER WAY WE DON’T LIKE WHAT’S
EITHER WAY WE DON’T LIKE WHAT’S HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. >> YEAH, EITHER WAY.
>> YEAH, EITHER WAY. EITHER WAY.
EITHER WAY. I MEAN, WHAT, YOU’RE ASKING
I MEAN, WHAT, YOU’RE ASKING ABOUT WHAT RUSSIA DID IN
ABOUT WHAT RUSSIA DID IN SHOOTING UP THOSE BOATS AND
SHOOTING UP THOSE BOATS AND TAKING ALL THOSE SAILORS HOSTAGE
TAKING ALL THOSE SAILORS HOSTAGE FROM OUR ALLY, BUT WE DIDN’T
FROM OUR ALLY, BUT WE DIDN’T LIKE THOSE SAILORS BEING THERE
LIKE THOSE SAILORS BEING THERE ANYWAY IN THEIR OWN WATERS, IN
ANYWAY IN THEIR OWN WATERS, IN THEIR OWN BOATS, THEY TOO WERE
THEIR OWN BOATS, THEY TOO WERE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
PART OF THE PROBLEM. YEAH, WE DIDN’T LIKE EITHER SIDE
YEAH, WE DIDN’T LIKE EITHER SIDE OF THIS.
OF THIS. WE DIDN’T LIKE EITHER THE OLD
WE DIDN’T LIKE EITHER THE OLD LADY IN THE CROSSWALK OR THE
LADY IN THE CROSSWALK OR THE SPEEDING TRUCK, FRANKLY.
SPEEDING TRUCK, FRANKLY. RUSSIA WAS DELIGHTED WITH THIS
RUSSIA WAS DELIGHTED WITH THIS ANSWER.
ANSWER. "THE WASHINGTON POST"
"THE WASHINGTON POST" INTERVIEWED A DEPUTY FOREIGN
INTERVIEWED A DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO GET HIS RESPONSE TO
MINISTER TO GET HIS RESPONSE TO HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS
HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.
ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS. QUOTE, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN
QUOTE, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER INTERPRETED THE CALLS
MINISTER INTERPRETED THE CALLS FOR BOTH SIDES TO EASE TENSIONS
FOR BOTH SIDES TO EASE TENSIONS AS A SIGNAL EVEN WESTERN
AS A SIGNAL EVEN WESTERN OFFICIALS BELIEVED THAT UKRAINE
OFFICIALS BELIEVED THAT UKRAINE SHARES SOME OF THE BLAME.
SHARES SOME OF THE BLAME. QUOTE, THIS IS THE SORT OF
QUOTE, THIS IS THE SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THROUGH THEIR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THROUGH THEIR TEETH THAT THE UKRAINIAN SIDE IS
TEETH THAT THE UKRAINIAN SIDE IS ALSO AT FAULT EVEN FROM THEIR
ALSO AT FAULT EVEN FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, GRUSHKO SAID.
POINT OF VIEW, GRUSHKO SAID. THE ATTACK HAPPENS ON A SUNDAYS,
THE ATTACK HAPPENS ON A SUNDAYS, MOST OF THE LEADERS IN THE
MOST OF THE LEADERS IN THE WESTERN WORLD FREAKS OUT.
WESTERN WORLD FREAKS OUT. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY
ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT FREAK
PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT FREAK OUT AND SAYS I’M CONCERNED ABOUT
OUT AND SAYS I’M CONCERNED ABOUT BOTH SIDES.
BOTH SIDES. RUSSIA’S DELIGHTED.
RUSSIA’S DELIGHTED. WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS TRUMP WAS
WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS TRUMP WAS DUE TO TRAVEL, LATER ON THAT
DUE TO TRAVEL, LATER ON THAT SAME WEEK, THURSDAY OF THAT WEEK
SAME WEEK, THURSDAY OF THAT WEEK HE WAS DUE TO TRAVEL TO THE G-20
HE WAS DUE TO TRAVEL TO THE G-20 CONFERENCE.
CONFERENCE. THERE WAS ALREADY AN ANNOUNCED
THERE WAS ALREADY AN ANNOUNCED PLAN FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO HAVE
PLAN FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO HAVE A BILATERAL HEAD TO HEAD MEETING
A BILATERAL HEAD TO HEAD MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR
WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.
PUTIN. NOW, OBVIOUSLY UNDER THESE
NOW, OBVIOUSLY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE RUSSIAN
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE JUST OPENED FIRE ON
FORCES HAVE JUST OPENED FIRE ON A U.S. ALLY, WOUNDED SOME OF
A U.S. ALLY, WOUNDED SOME OF THEIR SAILORS, SEIZED THREE OF
THEIR SAILORS, SEIZED THREE OF SHARE SHIPS BY FORCE AND TAKEN
SHARE SHIPS BY FORCE AND TAKEN THOSE SAILORS PRISONER, THE
THOSE SAILORS PRISONER, THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WHO JUST DID
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WHO JUST DID THESE THINGS CANNOT THEN HAVE A
THESE THINGS CANNOT THEN HAVE A FRIENDLY MEETING WITH THE U.S.
FRIENDLY MEETING WITH THE U.S. PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. NOT JUST DAYS AFTER THIS ATTACK
NOT JUST DAYS AFTER THIS ATTACK ON ONE OF OUR ALLIES, RIGHT?
ON ONE OF OUR ALLIES, RIGHT? YOU’RE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
YOU’RE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN IS OFF, SIR, RIGHT?
PUTIN IS OFF, SIR, RIGHT? THAT’S NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE, IS
THAT’S NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE, IS IT?
IT? >> I THINK IT’S A VERY GOOD TIME
>> I THINK IT’S A VERY GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE MEETING.
TO HAVE THE MEETING. >> OF COURSE.
>> OF COURSE. WHY NOT HAVE THE MEETING?
WHY NOT HAVE THE MEETING? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GET IN THE
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GET IN THE WAY OF YOU HAVING YET ANOTHER
WAY OF YOU HAVING YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO STARE INTO THOSE
OPPORTUNITY TO STARE INTO THOSE STEELY BLUE MARBLES?
STEELY BLUE MARBLES? NOW, ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER GOOD A
NOW, ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER GOOD A TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP THOUGHT
TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE, THAT WAS
THAT WAS GOING TO BE, THAT WAS WAS AN ANSWER EVEN THE TRUMP
WAS AN ANSWER EVEN THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE
WHITE HOUSE HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE COULD NOT STAND.
COULD NOT STAND. WITHIN LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER
WITHIN LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAYING WHAT I JUST
THE PRESIDENT SAYING WHAT I JUST SHOWED YOU, LESS THAN AN HOUR
SHOWED YOU, LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE
AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO MEET WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN,
TO MEET WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN, LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER THE
LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IN FACT
WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IN FACT MAYBE IT WOULDN’T BE A GREAT
MAYBE IT WOULDN’T BE A GREAT TIME.
TIME. PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD BE
PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD BE CANCELING HIS MEETING WITH
CANCELING HIS MEETING WITH VLADIMIR, THEY’D NOT BE MEETING
VLADIMIR, THEY’D NOT BE MEETING TOGETHER AT THE G-20.
TOGETHER AT THE G-20. IT’S INTERESTING, THOUGH, IT’S
IT’S INTERESTING, THOUGH, IT’S ALMOST LIKE RUSSIA KNEW THEY
ALMOST LIKE RUSSIA KNEW THEY WERE MORE IN CONTROL OF THE
WERE MORE IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION THAN THE WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION THAN THE WHITE HOUSE MAYBE BECAUSE RUSSIA NEVER
MAYBE BECAUSE RUSSIA NEVER EXPRESSED ANY CONCERN IN
EXPRESSED ANY CONCERN IN RESPONSE TO THAT WHITE HOUSE
RESPONSE TO THAT WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT.
ANNOUNCEMENT. THEY NEVER SEEMED CONCERNED AT
THEY NEVER SEEMED CONCERNED AT ALL THAT MEETING MIGHT ACTUALLY
ALL THAT MEETING MIGHT ACTUALLY BE OFF.
BE OFF. IN FACT RUSSIA SUBSEQUENTLY
IN FACT RUSSIA SUBSEQUENTLY BRAGGED AS FAR AS THEY WERE
BRAGGED AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED THE MEETING WAS STILL
CONCERNED THE MEETING WAS STILL ON.
ON. TELLING REPORTERS, QUOTE, THIS
TELLING REPORTERS, QUOTE, THIS MEETING IS BEING PREPARED.
MEETING IS BEING PREPARED. IN OTHER WORDS, DID THE WHITE
IN OTHER WORDS, DID THE WHITE HOUSE TELL YOU THE MEETING WAS
HOUSE TELL YOU THE MEETING WAS OFF?
OFF? THAT’S ADORABLE.
THAT’S ADORABLE. IF WE SAY PUTIN IS GOING TO MEET
IF WE SAY PUTIN IS GOING TO MEET WITH TRUMP, THEN PUTIN IS GOING
WITH TRUMP, THEN PUTIN IS GOING TO MEET WITH TRUMP.
TO MEET WITH TRUMP. YOU’RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THOSE
YOU’RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THOSE PEOPLE?
PEOPLE? AND SURE ENOUGH THE DAY AFTER
AND SURE ENOUGH THE DAY AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALLY
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT MEETING WOULD NOT
ANNOUNCED THAT MEETING WOULD NOT HAPPEN, THAT IT WAS CANCELED
HAPPEN, THAT IT WAS CANCELED AFTER WHICH RUSSIA KIND OF COT
AFTER WHICH RUSSIA KIND OF COT ASSERTED YES IT WOULD HAPPEN,
ASSERTED YES IT WOULD HAPPEN, THE FOLLOWING DAY RUSSIA
THE FOLLOWING DAY RUSSIA FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THE MEETING
FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THE MEETING BETWEEN TRUMP AND PUTIN AT THE
BETWEEN TRUMP AND PUTIN AT THE G-20 WAS STILL ON.
G-20 WAS STILL ON. AND IN FACT WHEN DONALD TRUMP
AND IN FACT WHEN DONALD TRUMP WENT TO THE G-20 MEETING HE DID
WENT TO THE G-20 MEETING HE DID IN FACT MEET WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN
IN FACT MEET WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN JUST LIKE RUSSIA SAID HE WOULD.
JUST LIKE RUSSIA SAID HE WOULD. SURE, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID HE
SURE, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID HE WOULDN’T TAKE THAT MEETING BUT
WOULDN’T TAKE THAT MEETING BUT RUSSIA SAID HE WOULD.
RUSSIA SAID HE WOULD. AND NOW AS OF TODAY, AS OF THIS
AND NOW AS OF TODAY, AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, NOW WE ACTUALLY KNOW
AFTERNOON, NOW WE ACTUALLY KNOW MORE OF THE REAL STORY ABOUT
MORE OF THE REAL STORY ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THERE.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THERE. MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE
MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES.
SCENES. AND HERE’S HOW WE KNOW IT.
AND HERE’S HOW WE KNOW IT. QUOTE, MR. CHAIRMAN AND RANKING
QUOTE, MR. CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE
MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS STATEMENT TODAY.
STATEMENT TODAY. I’VE SERVED AS A FOREIGN SERVICE
I’VE SERVED AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2005.
SINCE 2005. I’VE SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER
I’VE SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER SERVING IN COUNTRIES ON THE
SERVING IN COUNTRIES ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE RUSSIAN
PERIPHERY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION INCLUDING MONGOLIA,
FEDERATION INCLUDING MONGOLIA, ARMENIA AND MOST RECENTLY
ARMENIA AND MOST RECENTLY UKRAINE.
UKRAINE. FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I’VE
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I’VE WORKED IN KIEV AND WASHINGTON BY
WORKED IN KIEV AND WASHINGTON BY PROMOTING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
PROMOTING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT IN EASTERN
TO THE CONFLICT IN EASTERN UKRAINE, COUNTERING RUSSIAN
UKRAINE, COUNTERING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AND DEFENDING THE
AGGRESSION AND DEFENDING THE PRINCIPLES THAT INTERNATIONAL
PRINCIPLES THAT INTERNATIONAL BORDERS SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED BY
BORDERS SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED BY FORCE.
FORCE. IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE
IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND PROMOTE OUR
OUR COUNTRY AND PROMOTE OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS ON SUCH AN
NATIONAL INTERESTS ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE.
IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE. THESE EFFORTS HAVE BENEFITTED
THESE EFFORTS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
FROM STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. IN AUGUST 2017 AMBASSADOR KIRK
IN AUGUST 2017 AMBASSADOR KIRK VOLKER ASKED ME TO SERVE AS
VOLKER ASKED ME TO SERVE AS SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR UKRAINE
SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS.
NEGOTIATIONS. IN THIS ROLE I HELPED NEGOTIATE,
IN THIS ROLE I HELPED NEGOTIATE, PROVIDED CONTEXT ON THE HISTORY
PROVIDED CONTEXT ON THE HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT AND PAST
OF THE CONFLICT AND PAST NEGOTIATIONS.
NEGOTIATIONS. ON NOVEMBER 25, 2018, RUSSIA
ON NOVEMBER 25, 2018, RUSSIA FURTHER ESCALATED THE CONFLICT
FURTHER ESCALATED THE CONFLICT WHEN ITS FORCES OPENLY ATTACKED
WHEN ITS FORCES OPENLY ATTACKED AND SEIZED UKRAINIAN MILITARY
AND SEIZED UKRAINIAN MILITARY VESSELS HEADING TO A UKRAINIAN
VESSELS HEADING TO A UKRAINIAN PORT IN TO SEA.
PORT IN TO SEA. WHILE MY COLLEAGUES QUICKLY
WHILE MY COLLEAGUES QUICKLY PREPARED A STATEMENT SENIOR
PREPARED A STATEMENT SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE BLOCKED THAT STATEMENT FROM
BLOCKED THAT STATEMENT FROM BEING ISSUED.
BEING ISSUED. AMBASSADOR VOLKER DRAFTED A
AMBASSADOR VOLKER DRAFTED A TWEET CONDEMNING RUSSIA’S
TWEET CONDEMNING RUSSIA’S ACTIONS WHICH I POSTED TO HIS
ACTIONS WHICH I POSTED TO HIS ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE POWER OF
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE POWER OF THAT TWEET, I THINK WE WERE ABLE
THAT TWEET, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS TODAY.
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS TODAY. WE THINK IT’S THIS.
WE THINK IT’S THIS. YOU SEE THE DATE ON THAT, FROM
YOU SEE THE DATE ON THAT, FROM KIRK VOLKER, THE SPECIAL
KIRK VOLKER, THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM UKRAINE.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM UKRAINE. SAYS, QUOTE, RUSSIA RAMS
SAYS, QUOTE, RUSSIA RAMS UKRAINIAN VESSEL PEACEFULLY
UKRAINIAN VESSEL PEACEFULLY TRAVELING TOWARDS A UKRAINIAN
TRAVELING TOWARDS A UKRAINIAN PORT.
PORT. RUSSIA SEIZES SHIPS AND CREW AND
RUSSIA SEIZES SHIPS AND CREW AND THEN ACCUSES UKRAINE OF
THEN ACCUSES UKRAINE OF PROVOCATION, QUESTION MARK,
PROVOCATION, QUESTION MARK, QUESTION MARK, QUESTION MARK.
QUESTION MARK, QUESTION MARK. THOSE ARE VERY POIGNANT QUESTION
THOSE ARE VERY POIGNANT QUESTION MARKS.
MARKS. IF YOU THINK THE POWER OF THE
IF YOU THINK THE POWER OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS NOT BEHIND
U.S. GOVERNMENT IS NOT BEHIND THOSE THREE QUESTION MARKS,
THOSE THREE QUESTION MARKS, RUSSIA SEIZES SHIPS AND CREW AND
RUSSIA SEIZES SHIPS AND CREW AND THEN ACCUSES UKRAINE OF
THEN ACCUSES UKRAINE OF PROVOCATION, QUESTION, QUESTION,
PROVOCATION, QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION.
QUESTION. IF YOU THINK THE U.S.
IF YOU THINK THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S POWER IS NOT
GOVERNMENT’S POWER IS NOT REPRESENTED BY THOSE QUESTION
REPRESENTED BY THOSE QUESTION MARKS, LET ME REFER YOU TO THE
MARKS, LET ME REFER YOU TO THE WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT ON THIS
WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT ON THIS MATTER.
MATTER. THERE ISN’T ONE, SORRY.
THERE ISN’T ONE, SORRY. THERE NEVER WAS ONE.
THERE NEVER WAS ONE. THIS TESTIMONY TODAY IS FROM
THIS TESTIMONY TODAY IS FROM CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, LONG TIME
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, LONG TIME FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WHO WAS
FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WHO WAS BROUGHT IN TO BE THE TOP ADVISOR
BROUGHT IN TO BE THE TOP ADVISOR TO KIRK VOLKER WHEN TRUMP BECAME
TO KIRK VOLKER WHEN TRUMP BECAME HIS SPECIAL ENVOY TO UKRAINE.
HIS SPECIAL ENVOY TO UKRAINE. FOR THE FIRST TIME WE LEARNED
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE LEARNED THAT SOMEONE SENIOR AT THE WHITE
THAT SOMEONE SENIOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE INTERVEERCHED TO PREVENT
HOUSE INTERVEERCHED TO PREVENT THE ISSUING OF A STATEMENT THAT
THE ISSUING OF A STATEMENT THAT WOULD CONDEMN RUSSIA FOR WHAT
WOULD CONDEMN RUSSIA FOR WHAT THEY DID.
THEY DID. JUST LAST YEAR, A ACTUALLY LESS
JUST LAST YEAR, A ACTUALLY LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY RAMMED
THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY RAMMED INTO AND SHOT AT THOSE UKRAINIAN
INTO AND SHOT AT THOSE UKRAINIAN SHIPS AND TOOK ALL THOSE SAILORS
SHIPS AND TOOK ALL THOSE SAILORS HOSTAGE.
HOSTAGE. THAT’S OUR ALLY, RIGHT?
THAT’S OUR ALLY, RIGHT? WE SUPPOSEDLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE
WE SUPPOSEDLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE RUSSIA TAKING PART OF UKRAINE
RUSSIA TAKING PART OF UKRAINE AND CALLING IT RUSSIA.
AND CALLING IT RUSSIA. WE CERTAINLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE
WE CERTAINLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE RUSSIA CONSIDERING THOSE
RUSSIA CONSIDERING THOSE INTERNATIONAL WATERS OR
INTERNATIONAL WATERS OR UKRAINIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS TO
UKRAINIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS TO BE THEIR OWN, BUT THEN THEY PULL
BE THEIR OWN, BUT THEN THEY PULL THIS OFF WITH ONE OF OUR
THIS OFF WITH ONE OF OUR ALALLIES INCLUDING TAKING THOSE
ALALLIES INCLUDING TAKING THOSE SAILORS HOSTAGE AND NOTHING.
SAILORS HOSTAGE AND NOTHING. THE WHITE HOUSE INTERVENES TO
THE WHITE HOUSE INTERVENES TO STOP A STATEMENT OF
STOP A STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION.
CONDEMNATION. WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?
WHY DID THAT HAPPEN? WHICH SENIOR OFFICIAL AT THE
WHICH SENIOR OFFICIAL AT THE WHITE HOUSE DID THAT?
WHITE HOUSE DID THAT? WE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THAT BEFORE
