Anne Applebaum

let me go a little bit farther back in history, you know, in that case. As early as the 1990s, Russia, which had become independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union, already in 1993-94 had begun to make threatening language threatening gestures towards some of its neighbors.

let me go a little bit farther back in history, you know, in that case. As early as the 1990s, Russia, which had become independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union, already in 1993-94 had begun to make threatening language threatening gestures towards some of its neighbors.

And there's a famous speech that's given by the president of Estonia in 1994, in which he was given in Hamburg, and he spoke about how happy Estonia was to be a member of Europe again, and he talked about architecture and so on. He also talked about the reemergence of a threat from Russia.

And there's a famous speech that's given by the president of Estonia in 1994, in which he was given in Hamburg, and he spoke about how happy Estonia was to be a member of Europe again, and he talked about architecture and so on. He also talked about the reemergence of a threat from Russia.

And there's a famous speech that's given by the president of Estonia in 1994, in which he was given in Hamburg, and he spoke about how happy Estonia was to be a member of Europe again, and he talked about architecture and so on. He also talked about the reemergence of a threat from Russia.

In other words, he was already then hearing language from Russia threatening Estonian sovereignty, questioning whether Estonia was really an independent nation or not. And there's a famous thing that happened at that speech. Again, it was in Hamburg. There was somebody in the room who was the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg who walked out of the speech. And of course, the deputy mayor of St.

In other words, he was already then hearing language from Russia threatening Estonian sovereignty, questioning whether Estonia was really an independent nation or not. And there's a famous thing that happened at that speech. Again, it was in Hamburg. There was somebody in the room who was the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg who walked out of the speech. And of course, the deputy mayor of St.

In other words, he was already then hearing language from Russia threatening Estonian sovereignty, questioning whether Estonia was really an independent nation or not. And there's a famous thing that happened at that speech. Again, it was in Hamburg. There was somebody in the room who was the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg who walked out of the speech. And of course, the deputy mayor of St.

Petersburg, it was Putin at that time. So the language of threat that began coming from Russia towards former Russian colonies and towards former Soviet states begins already in the 90s. In 2003, four and five, there began to be other kinds of threats. There's a big cyber attack on Estonia at that time. There is a record of Russia threatening its neighbors that goes back 20 years.

Petersburg, it was Putin at that time. So the language of threat that began coming from Russia towards former Russian colonies and towards former Soviet states begins already in the 90s. In 2003, four and five, there began to be other kinds of threats. There's a big cyber attack on Estonia at that time. There is a record of Russia threatening its neighbors that goes back 20 years.

Petersburg, it was Putin at that time. So the language of threat that began coming from Russia towards former Russian colonies and towards former Soviet states begins already in the 90s. In 2003, four and five, there began to be other kinds of threats. There's a big cyber attack on Estonia at that time. There is a record of Russia threatening its neighbors that goes back 20 years.

And so all of those neighbors, the reason NATO expanded following the Cold War was because those countries felt under direct threat and they were not wrong. So if you look at the history, it goes the other way around. So people were clamoring to join NATO. Why did Poland want to join NATO? Why did Romania want to join NATO? Why did Lithuania want to join NATO?

And so all of those neighbors, the reason NATO expanded following the Cold War was because those countries felt under direct threat and they were not wrong. So if you look at the history, it goes the other way around. So people were clamoring to join NATO. Why did Poland want to join NATO? Why did Romania want to join NATO? Why did Lithuania want to join NATO?

And so all of those neighbors, the reason NATO expanded following the Cold War was because those countries felt under direct threat and they were not wrong. So if you look at the history, it goes the other way around. So people were clamoring to join NATO. Why did Poland want to join NATO? Why did Romania want to join NATO? Why did Lithuania want to join NATO?

They wanted to join NATO because they were already felt under threat from Russia. So in that same period of time, there were gestures made to Russia. There was a NATO-Russian partnership that was created. Russia was invited to join the G7, which for a while was the G8. Russia was invited to a whole series of other institutions.

They wanted to join NATO because they were already felt under threat from Russia. So in that same period of time, there were gestures made to Russia. There was a NATO-Russian partnership that was created. Russia was invited to join the G7, which for a while was the G8. Russia was invited to a whole series of other institutions.

They wanted to join NATO because they were already felt under threat from Russia. So in that same period of time, there were gestures made to Russia. There was a NATO-Russian partnership that was created. Russia was invited to join the G7, which for a while was the G8. Russia was invited to a whole series of other institutions.

There was an idea that Russia and Russia was, of course, part of the WTO. But there was an idea that Russia would be wrapped into a series of institutions and would through trade and through interaction would eventually cease to be hostile, you know, and then maybe, you know, down the road, there was even talk of Russia eventually being in NATO.

There was an idea that Russia and Russia was, of course, part of the WTO. But there was an idea that Russia would be wrapped into a series of institutions and would through trade and through interaction would eventually cease to be hostile, you know, and then maybe, you know, down the road, there was even talk of Russia eventually being in NATO.

There was an idea that Russia and Russia was, of course, part of the WTO. But there was an idea that Russia would be wrapped into a series of institutions and would through trade and through interaction would eventually cease to be hostile, you know, and then maybe, you know, down the road, there was even talk of Russia eventually being in NATO.