Anne Applebaum

But he also wanted to say, look, I can do this. I can invade Ukraine. I can bomb civilians. I can kidnap children. He's kidnapped 20,000 children, taken them from occupied Ukraine to Russia. I can torture people. I can defy the Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter, all kinds of institutional language on human rights. I can do all of this and you can't stop me.

But he also wanted to say, look, I can do this. I can invade Ukraine. I can bomb civilians. I can kidnap children. He's kidnapped 20,000 children, taken them from occupied Ukraine to Russia. I can torture people. I can defy the Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter, all kinds of institutional language on human rights. I can do all of this and you can't stop me.

So what he's trying to show is that he doesn't care about any of these documents, any of these laws or rules or norms from the 20th century and from the early part of the 21st century. And they are seeking really to create a different kind of world. And Putin uses this word multipolarity, which actually, I mean, just on the face of it is a neutral word.

So what he's trying to show is that he doesn't care about any of these documents, any of these laws or rules or norms from the 20th century and from the early part of the 21st century. And they are seeking really to create a different kind of world. And Putin uses this word multipolarity, which actually, I mean, just on the face of it is a neutral word.

So what he's trying to show is that he doesn't care about any of these documents, any of these laws or rules or norms from the 20th century and from the early part of the 21st century. And they are seeking really to create a different kind of world. And Putin uses this word multipolarity, which actually, I mean, just on the face of it is a neutral word.

I mean, multipolarity means that there are lots of nations who have power. And that's obviously true. I mean, so multipolarity exists. I mean, it's real. But he's using it in a very specific way. He's talking about multipolarity replacing what he calls hegemony. And by hegemony, he means a world in which

I mean, multipolarity means that there are lots of nations who have power. And that's obviously true. I mean, so multipolarity exists. I mean, it's real. But he's using it in a very specific way. He's talking about multipolarity replacing what he calls hegemony. And by hegemony, he means a world in which

I mean, multipolarity means that there are lots of nations who have power. And that's obviously true. I mean, so multipolarity exists. I mean, it's real. But he's using it in a very specific way. He's talking about multipolarity replacing what he calls hegemony. And by hegemony, he means a world in which

Those kinds of laws and language, the language of rights, the language of borders, the language of the rule of law is abolished in favor of essentially a world in which very big countries get to decide what they want and little countries don't have sovereignty. And if Russia wants to invade Ukraine, Russia gets to do that and nobody can stop them. That's the world they're seeking to create.

Those kinds of laws and language, the language of rights, the language of borders, the language of the rule of law is abolished in favor of essentially a world in which very big countries get to decide what they want and little countries don't have sovereignty. And if Russia wants to invade Ukraine, Russia gets to do that and nobody can stop them. That's the world they're seeking to create.

Those kinds of laws and language, the language of rights, the language of borders, the language of the rule of law is abolished in favor of essentially a world in which very big countries get to decide what they want and little countries don't have sovereignty. And if Russia wants to invade Ukraine, Russia gets to do that and nobody can stop them. That's the world they're seeking to create.

And those are the institutions they want to destroy. And of course, it's very dangerous because, you know, there have been many, I don't want to claim that the last 70 or 80 years have been perfect by any means, but the fact that the U.S., Europe, so many other countries have been able to invest so much in welfare, in scientific research.

And those are the institutions they want to destroy. And of course, it's very dangerous because, you know, there have been many, I don't want to claim that the last 70 or 80 years have been perfect by any means, but the fact that the U.S., Europe, so many other countries have been able to invest so much in welfare, in scientific research.

And those are the institutions they want to destroy. And of course, it's very dangerous because, you know, there have been many, I don't want to claim that the last 70 or 80 years have been perfect by any means, but the fact that the U.S., Europe, so many other countries have been able to invest so much in welfare, in scientific research.

in increasing prosperity of their nations as opposed to spending 20 or 30 or 40% of their national budgets on the military. This has been the blessing of the post-war world. This is one of the reasons we've had so much prosperity. If we return to a world in which might makes right and everybody needs a huge army, then we're going to be living on a very different kind of planet.

in increasing prosperity of their nations as opposed to spending 20 or 30 or 40% of their national budgets on the military. This has been the blessing of the post-war world. This is one of the reasons we've had so much prosperity. If we return to a world in which might makes right and everybody needs a huge army, then we're going to be living on a very different kind of planet.

in increasing prosperity of their nations as opposed to spending 20 or 30 or 40% of their national budgets on the military. This has been the blessing of the post-war world. This is one of the reasons we've had so much prosperity. If we return to a world in which might makes right and everybody needs a huge army, then we're going to be living on a very different kind of planet.

But that is what the Russians want. And increasingly, it seems that it may even be what the Chinese want.

But that is what the Russians want. And increasingly, it seems that it may even be what the Chinese want.

But that is what the Russians want. And increasingly, it seems that it may even be what the Chinese want.