Kremlin Spokesman: 'There is no war in Ukraine'

Freddie Sayers meets Dmitriy Polyanskiy.

First Deputy Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy joins Freddie Sayers to discuss the nuclear threat against NATO members and possible conclusions to the conflict in Ukraine.

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// TIMECODES //

00:00 - 00:42 - Introduction
00:42 - 02:11 - Does the Russian government believe they haven’t invaded Ukraine?
02:11 - 04:33 - If the focus was solely on Donbass. Why is there military activity in other parts of Ukraine?
04:33 - 07:40 - Is Donbass still part of Russia, in their government’s view?
07:40 - 09:21 - Is it a humanitarian intervention?
09:21 - 11:59 - Was there actually a retreat in Kyiv, or was it part of a plan?
11:59 - 13:21 - Dmitry’s statement on the loss of Russian troops.
13:21 - 15:16 - What are the definitions of success for the Russian government?
15:16 - 18:46 - Is there a diplomatic solution to the invasion of Ukraine? What would make Russia withdraw?
18:46 - 21:09 - How does Dmitry think this invasion will play out?
21:09 - 24:51 - How will Russia react to Sweden and Finland joining NATO?
24:51 - 29:22 - Is there a possibility of a nuclear escalation?
29:22 - 33:25 - With all the losses and on the Russian side. What does success look like for them?
33:25 - 41:16 - The denazification of Ukraine
41:16 - 42:50 - Concluding thoughts

#russia #Ukraine #UkraineWar

[freddiesayers]

Hi guys, getting a lot of comments that I was etc. Just a reminder that no another Western channel has given a 45 minute interview to a senior Russian official like this. I may not have been all sweetness and charm with him but he got his chance to say his piece — you have the chance to hear him out. As for Ukrainian neo-Nazis - unlike any other channel UnHerd has done a detailed, very even handed investigation into it (link below) so individual instances of them are not a revelation or a rationale for invading... Tricky balance to get right, but that's what we're trying to do! Freddie

[jimkozubek]

I'm really not impressed by Freddies hostility at the end of this interview. Not a good look for a journalist.

[Pensivata]

We might not believe this spokesman - but why is our MSM not even addressing these arguments, let alone mentioning them? Shame on them.

[tomigrgicevic]

«Stay ignorant as you are! » I've never imagined that I would agree with somebody who would says this to Freddy. I always appreciated Freddy so much. But I really think he deserved this comment after today's interview.

[karenfriesen]

I hope this gentleman reads the comments. He should know that there are those of us who recognize there are always two sides to a story and will listen with an open mind to both sides. I don’t believe Freddie was able to demonstrate this in this interview. I am wondering more and more if this is actually a proxy war on behalf of the west.

[Kevin]

I like that u interviewed him but this interview made it very clear what your personal opinion on this matter was and u were alot less professional and unbiased as u usually are which is a shame. People can make up their own mind, dont pick a side during an interview.

[icf]

Freddie, most people with an understanding of Ukraine is aware of the war that the ultra nationalists in Kyiv have been waging in the Dondas in the past 8 years and you refused acknowledge it or allow your guest to mention it. I’m truly disappointed in your lack of objectivity in this matter.

[christiangueckel]

I liked Unherd's coverage of the pandemic, vaccination, etc. But if this was an attempt to show the Russian perspective, it unfortunately failed. Already Freddie's provocation in the introduction, referring to the Russian diplomat as a representative of the "Putin regime", revealed his intentions.

[lizliz]

Respect for the fact that you have conducted this interview where MSM wouldn't even bother. However, being a journalist is - having the capability to listen, let the speaker talk, and ask the sort questions where the narrative is shaped in a way where both sides are presented.

[robertkras]

Freddie should let his guest finish his statements... in the past he did, but his bias is clear on this.
If you don't want to hear what your guest has to say, then don't have them on - otherwise you're no better than CNN

[truelifepodcast]

I feel the Russian Diplomat was giving his honest OPINION. Freddy came off incredibly condescending. My government officials have rubber stamped over 50 billion of U.S. tax payers money, we have vets living under bridges, buisness Going bankrupt, kids suffering, vax injuries, 7 dollar gas, food shortages, college loan debt that can never be defaulted on, & our politicians refuse to do anything about, however we can cover the salary of every Ukrainian official for the next 5 years, and bribe Finland/Sweden to get into the fight.
The majority of Americans are ready to riot! There will NEVER Be a mass mobilisation of boots on the ground from the US.
We are sick & tired of the EU running their mouth, then running & hiding! This time they are on their own. Rich, arrogant, condescending, aristocrats…..would do well to reread “The Charge of the Light Brigade”

[GGTutor]

How to lose all credibility of your channel in one interview, by Freddie Sayers. I cannot believe I actually thought that this channel was genuinely interested in finding truth and presenting it in a way that leaves the viewer to decide. Videos on COVID gave this channel some credibility on that front. This interview showed the true face of this channel. The same ignoring of the history of this conflict by the interviewer and an unnecessarily hostile tone and language to the presentation of facts by the diplomat. Nothing he said was shown to be false, but rather portrayed as unimportant or 'old news'. Freddie's eyes in the interview are very revealing as he often drops the lids slightly which indicate a refusal to listen or acknowledge the information being presented and a disdain for the interlocuter.
The ridiculous posturing at the end about seeking truth and at the same time pronouncing what British people think is very tiresome when the interview revealed that Freddie is interested in neither and is just another part of the propaganda machine. I am growing increasingly disgusted by my own country and the class that run and speak for it. A shameful performance by Freddie, whatever you may think of Russia's actions.

[mikegurv]

Freddie, you completely ignore what had led to this conflict. We have to say "no" to war but lets expose all guilty parties.

[hasserl]

Basically you lost the argument in the first minute when you introduced the man as a representative of the Putin regime and he corrected you. Throughout the rest of the discussion he owned you at every point. You clearly went into this discussion with an obvious bias born of ignorance, which is really not understandable, or reasonable, considering the amount of information available on this issue.

[charmjdeane]

Freddie @ 6:41 rudely questioned the man's intelligence by asking how someone so intelligent as himself could believe that Russia's actions are that of peace. I how the Russian @7:06 using Freddie's same words questioned Freddie's insight and knowledge about the war in Donbas for the last 8 years. Is at times like this that I miss Larry King.

[Derrar]

The first thing I noticed in the beginning of this interview was " Putin régime" the diplomat correctly corrected Freddie .
I thought unheard was neutral and unbiased opinion, for me it shows the mind was already set, even before the interview started.
In war there is no winners and the diplomat rightly said it, but Freddie kept trying to demonizing him, as the say goes " you make peace with your enemies, not your friends " .

[consciousexplorer]

The representative sounds quite rational. Anyone who has been following history of events in the region would not be surprised. The West / Nato plays a clear role in this war.

[spadedz]

The interview was "BBC"/"CNN" lite, very disappointing.
Freddie Sayers came across especially towards the end of the conversation as arrogant, smug, dismissive, rude etc. Sayers tried his best to sweep the Ukraine neo Nazi issue under the rug, by saying something to the effect of "many countries have neo Nazi's", 'nothing to see here'.

[sitascott]

Thanks for having this diplomat on. It would have been good if you had not been talking over him, at the end, though.

[aristotleolympiada]

When you get a guest like this just let him speak and articulate his side of the story. This is what this channel is all about and it's the best media brand out there at the moment. This was a wasted opportunity to go deep because you made him feel uncomfortable early on. Let the man talk and give his examples of what he thinks truth is. Your audience is smart enough to see what is BS and what isn't.