Who is Vladimir Solovyov and why is he saying those things?
Yesterday my attention was called to this article, the translation of which (thanks, Google translate) is as follows:
Russian journalist and well-known propagandist Vladimir Solovyov said that the Russian Federation will not stop at the war in Ukraine. He said this during his show.
“If you think that we will stop at Ukraine, think 300 times. Let me remind you that Ukraine is just an intermediate stage in ensuring the strategic security of the Russian Federation,” Solovyov said.
You are not you when they found and squeezed out two more of your villas in Italy
So, who is Solovyov, whom I’d never heard of before yesterday? “Propagandist” is the word used, and as far as I can tell he’s the Russian version of a talk show personality and is extremely pro-Putin:
The media often describe Solovyov as a propagandist. Solovyov regularly talks about his patriotism, the rapid development of Russia under Putin and the decline of the West.
He’s not an official government spokesperson, but he seems highly in tune with the government and is instrumental in spreading its message:
Regarding the armed conflict in east Ukraine, Solovyov position mirrored that of president Putin and the Russian government: that the conflict was between the fascists of the Ukrainian maidan and the anti-fascists of the rebel eastern territories.
Solovyov has changed his opinion on different questions numerous times; for example, the Crimean problem. Solovyov on Crimea:
“Any person who tries to start a war between Russia and Ukraine is a criminal, moreover, I can’t even imagine the extent of such criminality. In Ukraine live people fraternal to us in spirit, in blood, in common history. Do not shout “Sevastopol is ours!” Do not shout “Crimea is ours!” (2008).
And why do you need Crimea?… It was, without a doubt, legitimately transferred (to Ukraine) by Kruschev. If we suddenly say (we’re taking it back) – it means war. Do you want a war with Ukraine? How many Ukrainian and Russian lives are you ready to lay down in order to take Crimea, which (by the way) has long become a Tatar territory?… Crimeans are against (rejoining Russia). (2013).
“We brought this day as best we could. Crimea and Sevastopol are again a part of Russia. Historical justice has triumphed!” (March 18, 2014).
Ready to change on a dime to reflect whatever winds might blow.
He seems to be a Putin shill, although not a press secretary:
Since September 2, 2018 — host of the “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin” on the channel “Russia-1”, in which for 1 hour he talks about the deeds done by the president over the past week. The intonation of the program, the selection of guests (in the premiere, they turned out to be only persons connected with the power: the president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov and the State Duma deputy from United Russia Andrei Makarov), the co-host (VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin), and thus prompted a number of media outlets to think about this as an attempt to raise the rating of the current head of state, which has fallen due to the pension reform [ru], and the emergence of a personality cult different from the Soviet era.
The article I initially posted in translation had a sentence about villas in Italy, which was apparently a reference to this:
On 23 February 2022, a day before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Solovyov was sanctioned by the European Union. He is barred from entering the EU countries, and his assets there, if exist, are frozen. His villa on Lake Como, Italy, was seized. Total number of seized properties with a value of 8 million euros is unknown.
In sum, it’s my impression that what Solovyov says is a good window into the minds of much of the Putin wing of Russian political thought, and should not be ignored.
I have assumed, since this began, that the Democrats were using the Putin threat, then war, as a distraction from the damage they have done to this country by massive spending, shutting down the oil and gas industry and the open border. Now, I see Republicans joining the war talk, including Romney accusing LT Col Gabbard of treason. Today I walked by a TV and saw Mitch McConnell raising a fuss about Ukraine. Have Republicans, especially Vichy Republicans like Romney, decided to help the Democrats hide their record by joining the war talk?
On the controversial issue of Crimea, James Nollet has written (at AmericanThinker) that “Crimea is not Ukrainian and never was until a sheer accident of history in 1954”. Crimeans, whether ethnically of Russian ancestry or not, have shown overwhelming support for being part of Russia and are mostly native speakers of Russian. Russia suffers from the rule of an authoritarian leader, and is hardly free of corruption, but one could argue not only that Ukraine is more corrupt, but that it is the money-laundering and human-trafficking capital of Europe, with much of its corruption tied to the U.S., specifically to powerful Democrats, while the main funder of Zelensky’s campaign, the oligarch Kolomoyskyi, is currently somewhere in exile and not allowed into this country.
Mike K:
Something can be useful as a distraction from other problems but also a very real crisis and not a manufactured one. This isn’t just “war talk” – there is a hot war currently going on in Europe that involves an invasion of one country (Ukraine) by another (Russia). People are responding to that.
Romney is an outlier, and his accusation towards Gabbard of treason is preposterous.
j e:
“One could argue” that Ukraine is more corrupt than Russia, but that seems like a waste of time to me. First of all, “one” doesn’t know, and Russia is an extremely corrupt nation itself – way way up there on the corruption scale. This war isn’t about who is more corrupt, however.
As far as Crimea goes – if Ukraine and Crimea had agreed to separate under ordinary circumstances, that’s fine with me. The circumstances were far from ordinary, and a Russian invasion was involved. Lots of parts of countries wish to secede, but they usually don’t because then the entire map would be balkanized. Whatever the real feelings of the Crimean people – and they may well have wanted to be part of Russia – the referendum was held under coercive conditions:
Many things happened in 1954 that were accidents, Putin taking the Crimea from Ukraine 60 years later was not an accident, IMO.
And that native Russian speaking pretext for warfare, a certain German used those kinds of reasons during the last century for rearranging borders. Up till now those arguments weren’t considered dispositive and most nations tended to avoid that behavior.
Mike K (3:19 pm) said, “Now, I see Republicans joining the war talk, including Romney accusing LT Col Gabbard of treason.”
Who thinks of Romney as “Republican”? In name only (as the now-common epithet goes), but hardly in any other reality-based way — at least over here on our side of The Great Divide.
(By the way, Romney’s treatment of Gabbard is *despicable*, which is another way in which he walks like a D, talks like a D, acts like a D, . . . .)
“Have Republicans, especially Vichy Republicans like Romney, decided to help the Democrats hide their record by joining the war talk?”
They haven’t been called for years now, by right-leaners disgusted by the establishment Republicans’ fecklessness, “The Stupid Party”, for nuthin’.
[I believe that description was coined by adamant columnist Samuel Francis.]
And the Daily Mail was reporting earlier today that, what I guess is the Russian version of The View, had its talking heads saying the US needs to “repatriate” Alaska and an old fort north of San Francisco or face the nukes. The rhetoric is out of control on both sides.
I’ve been there, Fort Ross, up on a beautiful section of the Northern California Pacific Coast. It is less than 100 miles north of San Francisco.
He’s not an official government spokesperson, but he seems highly in tune with the government and is instrumental in spreading its message:
The White House is briefing TikTok stars about the war in Ukraine
With millions getting their information about the war from the platform, the administration wants to get its message to top content creators
Not everything in America is fake yet, it’s only like 70%. Biggest difference is that Putin makes journalists and other media figures disappear if they don’t say what he likes, but ours apparently go along willingly, and proudly proclaim they got their information from a government-supplied fact sheet.
This commentator, Solovyov, is still on the air in Russian which indicates his approval by the regime. If he didn’t toe Putin’s line, he’d be gone.
I rather like the term “Vichy Republican.”
The rhetoric is out of control on both sides.
Both sides of what? Who has threatened Russia with nuclear weapons?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10614915/Russian-state-TV-demands-REPARATIONS-sanctions-public-hangings-Ukraine.html
No clue how much of this report is on the level. If it is, I’d be fascinated to know how the man in the street in Russia assesses this.
Rows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air ….
but of the Vlad I do despair ….
and if you care don’t say NATO, don’t give yourself away.
Not on Spotify.
Something can be useful as a distraction from other problems but also a very real crisis and not a manufactured one. This isn’t just “war talk” – there is a hot war currently going on in Europe that involves an invasion of one country (Ukraine) by another (Russia).
The “hot war” does not yet involve us or NATO. “No fly zones” over Ukraine would be an act of war. I feel bad for all the people in Ukraine being hurt or killed or displaced. I do think there is quite a bit of pro-Ukrainian propaganda coming at us. Also Ukraine was used as an ATM by US politicians and not just Biden. Romney had one of his allies on the Burisma board.
The actions by the Biden administration may just have sunk the US economic system for years. It is run by fools who have no idea of reality. They are about as competent as those running Austria-Hungary in 1914.
Yes in 1914 the Germans were agast that Belgium faught them instead of letting the Imperial Army roll through unopposed to attack France. And the Germans treated the Belgians so well. So Vlad is surprised that the Ukrainians have faught his invasion.
Melian Dialog indeed.
Not that Vlad has any other plans for Eastern Europe? Greater Russia. Who are you going to believe, all of just part of what Vlad says, or your lying eyes?
It really sucks when history comes a knockin’
“Let me remind you that Ukraine is just an intermediate stage in ensuring the strategic security of the Russian Federation,” Solovyov said.”
Before we bet the house on Solovyov’s predictions, we might ask by what calculus Solovyov imagines that upping the ante by invading more countries and inevitably raising the risk of nuclear war will ensure “the strategic security of the Russian Federation”… and it would be a serious risk.
Solovyov’s readiness to change on a dime to reflect whatever way the winds are blowing invalidates giving much credence to anything he says.
He’s clearly a Putin cheerleader, just a Russian version of Jen Psaki.
Geoffrey Britain:
No one’s “betting the house” on anything at the moment. But Solovyov and Jen Psaki are both aligned with the thinking of the administrations in charge in their respective countries. Psaki is even an official spokesperson, which Solovyov is not. But he is clearly closely aligned with Putin.
Mike K:
Those discussing having no-fly zones or sending US troops to Ukraine are outliers. It is not the majority position of any party nor of the administration.
“Romney is an outlier, and his accusation towards Gabbard of treason is preposterous.” neo
It is a preposterous accusation and Romney must have known that before he made it. So to what purpose did that accusation serve?
I’m guessing that Putin’s plans for the Baltic Republics or Poland or Moldova or anything else he might have had his eye on, have undergone radical revision over the past three weeks.
The world is getting very lucky at Ukraine’s expense, and Putin is falling into a sort of worst-of-both-worlds where he’s shown himself to be an aggressor and shown himself to be incapable of carrying out aggression effectively. His nuclear arsenal prevents anyone invading him but I’m not sure he has much in the way of conventional offensive capability to threaten his other neighbors, who will have lots of time to get ready.
16 days after the invasion of France began the British had to start evacuating Dunkirk. Blitzkrieg this isn’t…
Putin taking the Crimea was indeed not an accident and asserting it to be to protect Russian speakers from opptression was a pretext and a clumsy one. Securing access to the Sevastopol Naval Base was the actual reason that Putin annexed the Crimea.
@Geoffery Britain:So to what purpose did that accusation serve?
To show everyone that Romney’s primary loyalty is not to the US? Taking Putin’s word for something might be treason to Ukraine possibly, but it can’t be treason to America. Mr Romney may have let slip a Kinsley gaffe.
His friends in the other half of the Uniparty aren’t much improvement. Just 10 years ago it was “reset”, “the 80s called and want their foreign policy back”, and “Tell Putin I’ll have more flexibility after the election”. A lot of the people in the government then are in the government now. And during the Bush years didn’t we hear dissent is the highest form of patriotism from these folks?
But we’ve always been at war with Eurasia, how silly of me, and dissent has always been the lowest form of treason.
Securing access to the Sevastopol Naval Base was the actual reason that Putin annexed the Crimea.
Otherwise, he’d have been forced to pay rent for it. Can’t have that.
“The actions by the Biden administration may just have sunk the US economic system for years. It is run by fools who have no idea of reality.” Mike K
Are they merely fools? If their actions were instead, meant to sink the US economic system for years, what would they have done differently?
“Geoffrey Britain:
No one’s “betting the house” on anything at the moment.”
If we take Solovyov’s words as “closely aligned” with Putin’s motivations, aren’t we in effect assuming that we have a pretty good idea of what motivates Putin?
If so, how then is that not “betting the house”?
That assumption precludes serious consideration of any other additional motivation, like national security realities.
NATO doesn’t have the capability to invade Russia and Russia is still the vast expanse of empty that gobbles up armies. Eastern Europe not so much. Asymmetry of geography in offense and defense. Projection of exestential threats.
Frederick,
“I’m not sure he has much in the way of conventional offensive capability to threaten his other neighbors”
Have you seen the reports that Putin did not send out his highly trained troops. Or informed speculation that Putin hoped that a slow encirclement of Ukraine’s cities would force Zelensky’s gov. to capitulate?
Here’s a detailed comparison between Russia and the US
https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=russia&country2=united-states-of-america
Judge for yourself.
Frederick,
I suspect that Romney’s purpose has nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with shutting down debate on Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine. We must speak with one voice… or else.
Occam’s Razor. Vlad screwed the pooch.
Yeah those airborne assault forces were just out of basic training. Cause anyone can pull off that type of operation, inexpensive too.
Have you seen the reports that Putin did not send out his highly trained troops.
No, I saw this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wrZiTX_zL8
That assumption precludes serious consideration of any other additional motivation, like national security realities
No, Mearsheimer’s argument had been considered and rejected, because it makes no sense.
It is not the majority position of any party nor of the administration.
I am seeing more and more support for this suicidal policy. I mentioned McConnell.
MIke K:
“More and more” is not the same as “many.” I have seen a couple, and then a couple more.
Well, Putin must be in the right here since his forces ARE the “anti-fascists”. I mean, they said so themselves and I’m told by Democrats and progressives that if you call yourself “anti-fascist”, then you are.
So, that’s settled.
Frederick,
I suspect that Romney’s purpose has nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with shutting down debate on Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine. We must speak with one voice… or else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Except its not our war, so…. no we don’t ?
And where is there evidence that Mittens has any credibility?
https://redstate.com/jerrywilson/2022/03/16/mitt-romney-votes-against-ending-cdc-mask-mandate-on-public-transportation-n536611
@ om > “And where is there evidence that Mittens has any credibility?”
I supported Romney in 2012 – I would have supported a random person pulled off the GOP registration lists over Obama – and I kind of defended his vote in Trump Impeachment 1.0 as being some kind of principled stand, although I thought it based somewhat on giving too much credence to the left-wing’s misinformation.
At this point, after his long list of defections to the Democrats on almost every high-profile issue I can remember, if I lived in Utah, I would be back to voting for a Republican rando.
AesopFan:
I voted for Mitt in 2012 as well, but he has proven to be a profound dissappointment.
@j e To add on to what others have said, the simple fact is that anybody claiming that Khruschev etc. al.’s assignment of Crimea from the Russian SR to the Ukrainian SR was an “accident of history” has done vanishingly little research on the matter and thus forfeits much of their credibility. The fact of the matter is that the Soviet leadership discussed and debated the reassignment consistently, before ultimately agreeing under the premise that it was too distant from Moscow for the Russian sub-government to administer (which had led to neglect in the early USSR, disasters during WWII and a slow, lagging recovery following WWII). This was not made for humanitarian concerns or “bourgeoise” matters such as self-determination, but it was an eminently practical one and not a “mistake of history.”
It also ignores things like Crimea’s place in Ukraine’s brief independent state in 1918-1920, and the fact that the post-Soviet Russian Government decided to ratify the “Mistake” at the Budapest Memorandum.
There were legal and ethical ways to seek union between Crimea and Russia (which I do not doubt many Crimeans wish), but barging in with disguised Spetznaz and killing or arresting people on a false flag is not one of them.
That Ukraine is not perfect is immaterial.