Anne Applebaum

And that's outrageous. You know, we would never do that, you know. So what he was objecting to was a criticism of the Soviet Union was depriving of people of rights. So you are right that what we're seeing now, this began with Russia actually, is a group of states who no longer even pretend that they are conforming to international law.

And that's outrageous. You know, we would never do that, you know. So what he was objecting to was a criticism of the Soviet Union was depriving of people of rights. So you are right that what we're seeing now, this began with Russia actually, is a group of states who no longer even pretend that they are conforming to international law.

And that's outrageous. You know, we would never do that, you know. So what he was objecting to was a criticism of the Soviet Union was depriving of people of rights. So you are right that what we're seeing now, this began with Russia actually, is a group of states who no longer even pretend that they are conforming to international law.

In fact, one of the primary reasons, I believe, for the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago, and we're almost at the anniversary, Three years ago was because, I mean, obviously it was part of the reason was Putin wants a new Russian empire. Part of the reason was he wanted to show that he would crush democracy in Ukraine to discourage any Russians from wanting to take that route.

In fact, one of the primary reasons, I believe, for the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago, and we're almost at the anniversary, Three years ago was because, I mean, obviously it was part of the reason was Putin wants a new Russian empire. Part of the reason was he wanted to show that he would crush democracy in Ukraine to discourage any Russians from wanting to take that route.

In fact, one of the primary reasons, I believe, for the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago, and we're almost at the anniversary, Three years ago was because, I mean, obviously it was part of the reason was Putin wants a new Russian empire. Part of the reason was he wanted to show that he would crush democracy in Ukraine to discourage any Russians from wanting to take that route.

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.

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.