Marie Yovanovitch - Former US Ambassador to Ukraine
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 чер 2024
- With war-ravaged Ukraine in the headlines every day, it’s more important than ever to hear from those with firsthand experience and an understanding of the complexities of the battle being waged there. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch not only served as U.S. ambassador to Kyiv from 2016-2019 but also has intimate family connections to the region as the child of survivors of the Nazi and Soviet regimes.
Yovanovitch is a diplomat and author with more than three decades of service in the State Department, having served as ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Ukraine, as well as senior advisor to the under secretary of state for political affairs. She is a diplomat in residence at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and was a target of a 2019 smear campaign from supporters of the former president during the Trump-Ukraine controversy. She would go on to be a key witness during the public hearings of the ensuing impeachment trial. Her life is a testimony to the importance of transparency, accountability and integrity in government.
In her new memoir, Lessons From the Edge, Yovanovitch reclaims her own narrative and recounts her childhood, immigration to the United States and journey up the ranks of the State Department. Coming from a family that faced poverty, violence and totalitarianism, she warns of the dangers corruption and democratic backsliding pose to our free society.
Join us as Yovanovitch offers her perspective on the current situation unfolding in Ukraine, and tells her inspiring story of strength, bravery and honesty in the face of controversy, reminding us of how precious democracy really is.
NOTES
This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.
Speaker photo courtesy the speaker.
MARCH 28, 2022
SPEAKERS
Marie Yovanovitch
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; Author Lessons From the Edge: A Memoir
In Conversation with Olga Oliker
Director, Europe and Central Asia Program, International Crisis Group
🎉 BECOME a MEMBER: www.commonwealthclub.org/memb...
The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum 📣, bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 500 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy.
Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Anthony Fauci in 2020.
In addition to the videos🎥 shared here, the Club reaches millions of listeners through its podcast🎙 and weekly national radio program📻.
I just hope Ambassador Yavonovich knows how much the average American appreciates her career, commitment and service to our country. I am personally disgusted with how this career servant to our nation was treated by the highest office in the United States. I'm hoping that the personal gratitude of this country will be enough for Ambassador Yavonavich.
Touché
Thank you!
We the People saved the Free World in 2020,but we're still in danger. The treatment of patriotic, qualified people like her and Col. Vindman was a humiliating outrage in a sea of them for 4 years. The GOP's support of Putin is the continuing of the damage done.
Great interview! Thank you.
Thank you for speaking the truth to power, Marie. Keep going!
All Americans must voice their opinions to elected leaders to preserve our democracy. I realize now neither I, nor anyone else, can take democracy for granted. And I don't mean a vocal minority electing an autocrat.
Only political reform can rescue US Democracy. The military industrial complex and corporate/financial power (Wall Street) wield too much influence.
@@hazelwray4184 they are running it, therefore their power must be broken up.
We are a republic, get it right. Not a democracy. Take the election for granted. What about the fraud in our White House. Nothing but criminals.
@Loren Ortiz a republic that votes and everyone has a voice. The fraud is currently being exposed about the Trump administration's failed attempt to steal the presidency by rejecting the legitimate voice of the people and bending every branch of government to serve its own selfish purposes. The swamp is being exposed. The law scoffers who disrespect the Constitution are being exposed for the phony liars that they are.
@Loren Ortiz I agree that people who are crooks in the Trump white house were criminals trying to create an autocracy and void the will of the voters.
i am almost finished reading Ms. Yovanovitch’s book and it has been very enlightening in shedding light upon the terrible war Putin is currently waging in Ukraine as well as
an impressive account of a woman who rose to an important position in foreign service through her grit, intelligence and perseverance. It was a real pleasure to listen to her comments on the world situation. I am grateful you have had this amazing woman on your program. Thank you.
Amazing conversation. Not a wasted word. So articulate and well informed based on a life of dedicated service.
Great interview. I have such great respect for her and the strength she showed and so sorry she needed to do so.
Beautiful, articulate, intelligent - just a few adjectives to describe this wonderful woman. Her voice needs to be heard.
Corrupt career politician, 35 years of evil. Every country she was assigned to has been devastated by her parties corrupt agendas.
It's so refreshing to hear a reasoned discussion between well-informed participants.
My thoughts exactly. And I love that the interviewer allows long answers that really go beyond sound bites.
Wish you could be our Ambassador again. We need you.💙💛🇺🇸☮️
Another enlightened interview.Thanks so much.And yes you are most needed in Ukraine!!
@@teddylee1218 Teddy the Russians troll
@@teddylee1218 Trump was the engine that started that our latest trouble
Nobody more qualified, so it was great to hear her perspective. On a lighter note, nice to see her looking so relaxed and looks stunning with her new hairstyle.
Way off topic: hair perfection!
@@marcellagridley2220 - true, true. But she does look great.
Very good interview; Marie Yovanovitch has experience with Ukraine and she sees through the Russian smoke and mirrors response to questions about Ukraine's future from the Russian leader. Let's be clear: Russia's reputation is on the line and if they lose Ukraine the current regime will crumble. That being said, Putin's only option is to win big and that means to take Mariupol asap. This must not happen. Mariupol is the keystone-city in my opinion. Lose Mariupol and Ukraine loses Kiev. This is why we have to accept the fact that this war is going to reverberate around the world until either Russia either wins the war in Ukraine or there is Russia with its back against the wall. Both options are dangerous for peace on Earth.
what was biden doing before putin invaded nothing but talking about diplomacy! we just had obama bs about how he stood up to putin yeah right. We are def. in a fight for democracy just like the last world war. putin seen a weakness and took advantage of it. biden admin. has to step up big time. I wish biden would stand up to putin and say we are tired of your threats shorty putin.
This war was entirely avoidable.
Very smart and wise lady. We need a lot more people like her in our government.
I just finished Ms. Yovanovitch's excellent book. She is someone to admire and respect.
Thank you for this informative and inspiring interview!
I Have Such Respect For You Marie! … Great To Hear Your Point Of View! … God Knows Your Qualified To Speak On This Issue!! … Can’t Believe What You Had To Personally Go Through At The End Of Your Career! … ✨God Bless You Moving Forward In Your Life! … As A Woman … I Admire Your Strength!!
Where would you be without "god?" And just out of interest, where was "god" when those poor kids were blown up in Ukraine?
Or Iraq?
Or Vietnam?
Or Hiroshima?
Or Nagasaki?
I admire your gall.
@@kendavies945 Exactly The Question Most Of Us Want To Know!! … Injustice Is Wrong On Any Level In My Opinion!! … As Far As God In Relation To Your Question … That Depends On Your Believe System … Everyone Is Different Depending On What Has Been Your Life Experience! … It’s My Belief … Not To Fear Death … Death Is Inevitable … We All Die At Some Point! … I Believe When We Die We Go To A Different Dimension … I Believe This World Has Injustices & Human Challenges That Are Beyond My Comprehension!! … I Take Comfort In Believing That There Is More To Life Beyond This Crazy Unfair World!! … So That’s My Answer About ✨”God”!!✨
wars should be avoided and received.....not forced and sustained......pleace peace🙏
Just purchased "Letters from the Edge" Kindle edition! (A fan from Canada)
I just finished the ambassador's book. Ms Yovanovitch has written a book that all Americans with a politcal conscientious should read, in my humble opinion as a history major with a political science minor and as a veteran. She has stood up with her principals for what is right for our security around the world. And, Go Ukraine.
Thank you Ambassador Yovanovitch for speaking to the argument that the US is more willing to support people who look like the WASPs among us. The situation is far more complex, including Ukraine is a democracy, bordering on our NATO allies, unlike, e.g., Syria; and, as you spoke to, Putin keeps pushing the boundaries and attacked a sovereign nation, again, unlike Syria. It doesn't excuse our past failures; it does make this moment more complex than just skin color and ethnicity. There are some parallels here to the support we provided to Afghanistan during USSR's invasion of that sovereign nation, which wasn't a democracy and didn't border NATO countries, but did have a population that was able to fight successfully against the invaders. We ultimately benefitted from USSR's defeat there, as it led to it's breakup, modifying the world order. World order is also at stake here, as you pointed out.
The US didn't support Afghanistan, it supported Islamist insurgents like Bin Laden.
I must say your benefit ratio was 9/11. So Good for you.
Ambassador Yovanovitch is so smart and appreciated, thank you Olga
What a wonderful speaker and what a wonderful moderator!
US of A needs no enemies to bring the great country down in every possible way!
The great ambassador can not refer to even one single aspect of the real issues facing Ukraine or the need for a balanced diplomacy based on many agreements signed and not signed between USSR/ Russia and NATO and western powers.
May her tribe live long!
War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker. Friend only to the undertaker. Peace, love and understanding, tell me:
Is there no place for them today?
Old Joe saying to the Russian to invade he should have instead said let's talk and come to a peaceful answer .
Excellent in every way.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Guys, for everything you have done and are doing to help save our democracy.
Jacqueline
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Madam Marie, please forgive my familiar address but I admire you and your work and your analysis, I am a fan.
When I was a young trooper, my wife was vetted as well as I.
Do you think those days are gone ?
We shouldn't act scared if we have to die so be it
Old Joe started this war to cover up his failure as president
I wish President Biden would reappoint her Ambassador to Ukraine.
She was the ambassador for so long, yet was unable to stop the corruption. In fact, she prevented Ukraine from being cleaned up by stopping its prosecutor from doing his job. She probably got herself, family, and friends really rich off of the aid and influence of the US. Being able to influence the billions in US aide to Ukraine certainly gives her lots of power & influence, and the opportunities to cash in.
I am hoping that you read her book or talk to someone who knows her. There's no way "Masha" can be bought.
There's a old saying throwing more wood on a fire doesn't put it out .
Truth
Maria you need to listen and read Chris Hedges and Richard Wolfs work
I am so fearful for our democracy. There appears to be a strong possibility that the former president will once again come to run our country.
My personal hope is that he so divides the GOP, they will be ineffective at a takeover. We'll see!
@@GailColeman I like that but I do not see enough evidence of division... not yet...jt
NO, HE WONT. HES OVER. HE IS A TRAITOR. He will NEVER BE PRESIDENT AGAIN.
Biden is almost guaranteeing that outcome. It's not unlike the situation in Macron's France.
@@hazelwray4184 I do not know what you know about France, but it is very different here The similarity is the mass of blind followers of their own bigotry, ignorance and resentments who refuse to examine facts. The fact her is that we have a relatively short political season, then as President Macron said (basically)... ±"You elected me for 5 years. I am doing the things that I promised I would do. If you don't like that vote me out in the next election." Le Pen like Trump leads the ignorant with a barrage of bigotry, fear & lies.
A significant difference, in France, is that we have two rounds in the elections. That means people get to express their resentments in the first round, then vote on the nation's future in the final round. Historically, Le Pens have not fared well in the serious round.e.. We'll see...jt
What role do you think fossil fuels play in this invasion. I read recently that Russia might have reached peak oil in 2019.
I don't believe that it played any role except in the mind of the president of Ukraine thinking he may get rich from it . Because Romania has oil and a US Air Force Base and their next door . I think it's all over the Eastward expansion of NATO from the West .
A bird of a feather is one that can reproduce together....period
Does it still apply what Gary Allen said in 1970 that "None dare call it Conspiracy "? Read PNAC and see if the document is talking about conspiracy.
Is the average Russian able to access international media by using a VPN?
Ambassador Yovanovitch represents the epitome of excellence in public service.
I’m so concerned today that Russia is cornering Ukrain. I’m so very concerned, frightened today.
Lightweight.
We are getting away from the point .
At the end of the ( cold war ) when Russia ( peacefully ) with drew from Eastern Europe NATO made a ( promise ) to Russia that NATO would not expand into Eastern Europe.
You must remember that the countries Russia occupied also had invaded Russia during ww2 .
It wasn't just Germany that killed 25 million Russians .
Russia doesn't want NATO ( America ,) troops / weapons on it's border.
The phrase Ukraine is a sovereign nation and can choose it's own destiny is frequently used.
Well Cuba is a sovereign nation with the right to choose it's own destiny.
Hum: when Cuba and Russia signed a treaty allowing ( Russian troops and weapons ) in Cuba 90 miles of the coast of Floruda.
What was America's response????
( Cuban missile crisis) does that term sound fimilar.
How about the ( Monroe Doctrine ) America has had that for now long?
And how many times has America gotten involved in the internal affairs of it's neighbors when it has felt it's interest are at risk.
If the Monroe Doctrine can work for America then the ( Putin Doctrine ) can work for Russia.
No Cuba was not a Soviet Nation . Belarus Ukraine Georgia and Russia was the only USSR Nations . All the others was allies or Satellite States . Cuba was a Ally who sent troops to Africa to fight for some other dictator !
They was given their Ally Cuba nuclear weapons to defend themselves
I said sovereign nation and Cuba has the same rights as America .
America has over 500 bases world wide , so the only country that has the right to send troops to a foreign country if asked is the U.S.
The U.S. Had atomic weapons in Turkey mounted on missles.
Read your history
@@richardgietzen4591 I thought the United States gave up the Turkish nuclear missiles during the Cuban missile crisis
Remind everyone, that the USSR, Nikita K. gave the Crimea to Ukraine.
Could you please expand on what you mean? What is the implication of this fact for the current situation?
Ukraine leadership appears to have integrity up and down. The world respects integrity. Trump's GOP: take note.
It is hard for the leader to have advisers around him who can give good advice which includes understanding what the other person thinks. Why did Kubla Khan like and value Marco Polo? Because he was such a person. You don’t appear to be such a person. You don’t seem to be able to put yourself in Putin’s shoes. You call him names and hint that he is isolated, going crazy, a bad person, etc. A former Ambassador to Russia said that any other Russian leader would feel the same as Putin about Nato expansion. Namely, it is an existential threat to Russia. By not addressing this , how can one consider your advice to be worth listening to?
Yes, Putin said Ukraine or Finland joining NATO is a major threat to Russia, yet all these advisors ignored his warnings. Now, Putin has used this as a pretext for invasion and war. These advisors lack common sense that those countries are the buffer zones between Russia and NATO.
Imagine a similar scenario with Russia putting nuclear missiles in Cuba. The US almost went to war during the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago.
Very brave,patriotic,woman who stood upto the coruption that was going on with trump and his cronies and didn't buckle under immense pressure,should never have lost her position,the quicker they lock trump up the better,on a side note you are looking beautiful,your new look has taken years off you !
I think Marie is gorgeous !
Do we want to become ants or something more
Fake
Trump trying to horse trade corruptly with the leader of a country trying to defend itself from Russian aggression. What else would you expect from a Reality TV clown? One who seems beholden to Vladimir Putin.
Heya Mike, ask yourself, what does trump know, I think Real estate and acquiring wealth, by many means...I think he sees ocean views and development opportunities in Ukraine.
"F" the inhabitants, look at his form.
Vlad is a Mongol property speculator . History is with him....
pyramids of skulls until he gets his way.....and he thinks Trump is a card trick......imo
Trump actually asked for Ukraine to clean up its corruption before handing over a billion dollars in aide. How much of US taxpayers' money already had gone into the pockets of Ukraine officials during Marie's years in office? She watched all that corruption happen and did nothing. They agreed that Ukraine is among the worst countries when it comes to corruption, yet still let millions go to the wrong people. No different from how the UN scams the US for billions. She's part of the game. I wouldn't be surprised if she's now a multimillionaire.
@@teddylee1218: Trump actually asked for Ukraine to clean up its corruption before handing over a billion dollars in aid. How much of US taxpayers' money already had gone into the pockets of Ukraine officials during Marie's years in office? She watched all that corruption happen and did nothing. They agreed that Ukraine is among the worst countries when it comes to corruption, yet still let millions go to the wrong people. No different from how the UN scams the US for billions. She's part of the game. I wouldn't be surprised if she's now a multimillionaire.
Why would he be beholden to Putin? Turns out he had no dealings with him but of course Hillary did.
Nonsense.
I dont think the rest of the world sees us the way do. I think, other than rinning for ur life...America has lost its glimmer and good reputation. We are bullies through our the world.
I would supply SU-27s from Poland via land routes to Ukraine.
Thank god she's gone.
Worst interview ever. Computer wasn't plugged in? Marie says how terrible this book was to write? Ugh.
lies lies lies...
What are you talking about?
Well , there are the lies of omission.
Specifically the history that happened
after the Soviet union ended their pact with Hitler . The Bandera Nazis that still exist and kill the Roma, Russians and other people, 10k in the Donbass since 2014 . All the experts, Kissinger, Jack Matlock, George Kennan, Stephen Cohen and how they warned against the eastward expansion of NATO. Promises broken.
@@brucehitchcock3869 so you are saying she was completely lying?
Eleni, what are you saying are lies? You are not explaining yourself and thus your comment is both confusing and holds no substance to the reader. Can you explain your disparaging comment?
Hi Eleni J.
How are you these days?
Frustrated? Depressed?
Yes I understand.
But I hear the weather is nice in Moscow today. What about a walk in the park?
The Russian people will unfortuantely have tough times ahead. Isolation, poverty.... you know. I guss you have to remove the little madman from Kremlin if you all want a return to civilzanation?
♥️ 🇺🇦 UKRAINE 🇺🇦 ♥️
♥️ 🇺🇳 NATO 🇺🇳 ♥️
Maria you need to listen and read Chris Hedges and Richard Wolfs work