>>> WE WAKE UP THIS MORNING TO A WAR IN UKRAINE.
A DEADLY ONE ALREADY.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS NOW OF EXPLOSIONS JUST ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
>> THE UKRAINIANS ARE GOING TO BE OUTMATCHED.
URGENT CALLS FOR HELP ASKING FOR HELP TO QUOTE, SURVIVE.
>> THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO BEAT A
SUPERPOWER LIKE RUSSIA.
>> ZELENSKYY CALLING ON KOREAN
>> ZELENSKYY CALLING ON KOR UKRAINIANS TO STAND THEIR
GROUND.
>> THE UKRAINIANS ARE NOT ONLY PUTTING UP A HEAVY FIGHT, THEY
ARE PULLING TOGETHER.
>> RUSSIA HAS UNDERSTOOD
>> RUSSIA HAS UNDERUNDERESTIMAT UKRAINIAN RESISTANCE.
>> PUTIN CAN AND MUST END THIS WAR.
FOR GOD SAKE, THIS MAN CANNOT REMAIN IN POWER.
>> UKRAINE'S DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS HIS FORCES HAVE
REGAINED CONTROL OF THE WHOLE KYIV REGION.
>> PUTIN LOSES MORE GROUND IN THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE.
>> PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE MEETS FACE-TO-FACE WITH PRESIDENT
BIDEN IN WASHINGTON.
>> HERE TO THANK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
>> COMING UP ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION.
>> HONESTLY, HOW LONG CAN UKRAINE HOLD OUT?
[ SIRENS ] ♪
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JOE BIDEN.
>> BREAKING NEWS OVERNIGHT, AN UNANNOUNCED TRIP BY PRESIDENT
BIDEN TO KYIV. THE PRESIDENT RENEWED HIS PLEDGE
OF AMERICAN SUPPORT.
>> THIS WOULD KEEND
>> THIS WOULD KEEIND OF BE LIKEF FDR VISITED LONDON DURING THE
BLITZ.
>> THIS IS BIDEN DOUBLING AND TRIPLING DOWN ON THE NATO
ALLIANCE.
>> CHINA'S TOP DIPLOMAT MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT.
>> THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN SAYING THEY BELIEVE CHINA IS
ABOUT TO HELP RUSSIA ON THE BATTLE FEED.
>> ZELENSKYY SAID TODAY WORLD WAR III COULD BREAK OUT IF THAT
HAPPENS.
>> ARE AMERICANS GOING TO STICK WITH THIS WAR?
HOW LONG ARE THEY WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EFFORT?
>> VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE BORDERS HALFWAY AROUND THE
WORLD. HE'S NOT DONE ANYTHING TO SECURE
OUR OWN BORDER.
>> PRESIDENT SAID THAT SUPPORT WILL LAST AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
>> AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
>> THAT'S HOW LONG WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES. ♪
♪ ♪
>> OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT.
>> JAKE.
>> SEASON EIGHT.
>> SEASON EIGHT, MAN.
>> HELLO, FRIENDS.
>> HELLO, JOHN.
>> YOU SEE THE PICTURE I JUST SENT?
>> OF MY POLISH FEAST?
>> THOSE PEROGIS LOOK --
>> YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOOK AT WHAT ARRIVED AT MY TABLE.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
>> WHAT'S IT LIKE THERE ON THE GROUND, JOHN, AND HOW WAS THE
SURPRISE RECEIVED?
>> THIS TRIP FROM BIDEN COMING ON THE EVE OF THE ONE-YEAR
INVASION OF UKRAINE WAS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER. THE LAST THING ANYONE THOUGHT
WAS THAT JOE BIDEN WOULD END UP PULLING OFF A TRUE SURPRISE AND
THE WORLD WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO THESE ASTONISHING PICTURES OF
BIDEN AND ZELENSKYY KIND OF SWAGGERING THROUGH THE STREET OF
KYIV, JUST PROJECTING STRENGTH.
>> WHAT COULD BE A MORE POWERFUL IMAGE TO SHOW THAT RUSSIA HAS
FAILED THAN ZELENSKYY AND BIDEN STANDING IN KYIV TOGETHER A YEAR
AFTER THIS WAR STARTED?
>> THIS IS THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR BIDEN
WAS AN ASSET FOR THEM. HE KNEW A LOT OF THESE WORLD
LEADERS. SO I THINK IN THE SHORT-TERM,
IT'S A HUGE HOME RUN FOR BIDEN.
>> JUST FEELS LIKE YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW.
HOLDING THIS NATO ALLIANCE TOGETHER AND IN FACT, EXPANDING
NATO OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR.
A LOT OF THAT IS THE WORK OF JOE BIDEN.
HE HASN'T GOTTEN THE CREDIT THAT I THINK HISTORY WILL GIVE HIM.
JIMMY CARTER WENT INTO HOSPICE CARE OVER THE WEEKEND AND THIS
IS LIKE WHEN SOVIETS INVADED AFGHANISTAN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CARTER DID DO WAS TO ARM THEM.
THE AFGHANIS, U.S. AND OTHER ASSISTANCE IS LARGE PART OF THE
REASON WHY, YET IT DIDN'T HELP CARTER GET RE-ELECTED IN 1980.
THAT CARTER WAS RIGHT. BUT DIDN'T GET CREDIT FOR IT IN
REALTIME IN TERMS OF THE PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT
PLAINTIFF'S E PLAINTIFF'S E
PRESIDENCY.
>> THAT'S THE CONCERN FOR BIDEN NOW.
>> POLITICS ARE REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IN PREVIOUS
YEARS, NOBODY WOULD HAVE CRITICIZED AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT
IN A WAR ZONE, BUT NOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NO PROBLEM
JUMPING ON IT.
>> BEING IN UKRAINE ON PRESIDENTS' DAY RATHER THAN
GOING TO OHIO WHERE AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING IN ONE OF THE
LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS IN MY LIFETIME, AT LEAST IT IS
AN EMBARRASS M.
>> THEY SAID THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE SOVEREIGN BORDER OF
UKRAINE. WE CAN'T EVEN PROTECT OUR OWN
BORDER.
>> INFLATION IS STILL HIGH AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT
THE ECONOMY. UKRAINE IS NOT FOREMOST IN THEIR
MIND, BUT TO SEE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MAKE LIKE A
GUTSY TRIP LIKE THIS TO SHOW THAT THERE'S A LOT TO BE GAINED
BEYOND.
>> BUT ALSO A LOT TO LOSE. THIS THING COULD GO SIDEWAYS
OVERNIGHT. YOU KNOW --
>> IT COULD GO SIDEWAYS LITERALLY OVERNIGHT.
>> REMEMBER AFGHANISTAN. IRAQ.
VIETNAM. IT'S COMPLICATED STUFF.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. TO GET INVOLVED IN A WAR EVEN
WHEN WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY FIGHTING ON THE GROUND AND THAT GOES
SOUTH AND YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, IT COULD COST YOU YOUR
POTSY. THE
T IT'S DEMOCRACY VERSUS
AUTOCRACY. FREEDOM VERSUS TYRANNY.
UKRAINE MUST WIN. RUSSIA MUST LOSE.
PUTIN MUST GO HOME AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT HAPPENS EXCEPT DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT SPIRAL INTO WORLD WAR
III. THAT IS A VERY DELICATE
BALANCING ACT WHERE THE RISKS ARE STRATOSPHERIC AND THE
DANGERS ARE POTENTIAL CALAMITOUS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH NUCLEAR
ARMS AND PUTIN. WHAT JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN DOING,
NECESSARY, IMPORTANT, AND SO FAR SUCCESSFULLY HE'S BEEN LIVING ON
THE EDGE. YOU LOOK BACK AT THIS LAST YEAR,
THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S BEEN. IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF LIVING
DANGEROUSLY. ♪
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS IN POLAND AS WE SPEAK.
>> AFTER HIGHLY SECRETIVE TRIP TO UKRAINE.
>> HE'LL MEET WITH THE POLISH PRESIDENT AND LATER HE'LL
DELIVER THIS SPEECH. PUTIN AND PRESIDENT BIDEN
DELIVERING DUELLING SPEECHES THIS MORNING.
>> PUTIN SAID RUSSIA IS SUSPENDING IN THE NEW START
NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY. ♪
>> I'M SORRY, WHO IS THIS?
>> THEY'RE THE PRESS. THEY'RE GOOD.
>> IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. END UP IN A POLISH PRISON.
>> NEARLY ONE YEAR AGO, I SPOKE AT THE ROYAL CASTLE HERE IN
WARSAW. JUST WEEKS AFTER PUTIN HAD
UNLEASHED HIS MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON UKRAINE.
ONE YEAR AGO THE WORLD WAS BRACING FOR THE FALL OF KYIV.
WELL, I JUST COME FROM A VISIT FROM KYIV AND I REPORT KYIV
STANDS STRONG! KYIV STANDS PROUD.
IT STANDS TALL. AND MOST IMPORTANT, IT STANDS
FREE. OUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE WILL NOT
WAIVER. NATO WILL NOT BE DIVIDED AND WE
WILL NOT TIRE. PRESIDENT PUTIN'S LUST FOR LAND
AND POWER WILL FAIL AND THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE'S LOVE FOR
THEIR COUNTRY WILL PREVAIL. DEMOCRACY OF THE WORLD WILL
STAND GUARD OVER FREEDOM TODAY, TOMORROW, AND FOREVER.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL. MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS.
MAY GOD BLESS THE HEROES OF UKRAINE AND ALL THOSE WHO DEFEND
FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU, POLAND.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
>> 11 MONTHS AGO, WHEN BIDEN WAS HERE, THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER HE WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER, HOLD TOGETHER THE
WESTERN ALLIANCE AND NATO IN PARTICULAR TO STAND STRONG IN A
LASTING WAY AGAINST THE RUSSIAN INVASION IN UKRAINE WERE HUGE.
NOW 11 MONTHS LATER, ZELENSKYY'S STILL THERE.
THE UKRAINES ARE STILL FIGHTING AND NOW HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE
SAME SPOT WITH BIDEN SAYING WESTERN ALLIANCE WILL STICK
TOGETHER. WE WILL STICK BY ZELENSKYY'S
SIDE FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES. IT'S A BIG ROLL THE DICE ON A
VERY FRACTIOUS WORLD. STICKING TOGETHER ON ANYTHING.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED TODAY THROUGH SHARP RELIEF, THE
NATION OF THIS CONFLICT, WE HAD PUTIN
PUTIN IN MOSCOW BASICALLY SAYING THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS THE FAULT
OF THE WEST AND RATTLING RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR SABERS BECAUSE
BIDEN AND HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID ANY
DIRECT MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH RUSSIA.
IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT NOT SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR
HAS THERE BEEN SUCH A DIRECT PROXY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. FROM START TO FINISH.
JOE BIDEN'S MESSAGE TO PUTIN HAS BEEN FUCK YOU AND IT CONTINUES
TO BE FUCK YOU AND THAT IS A BOLD, BALLSY WAY TO RUN A
FOREIGN POLICY. WHAT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
OF THAT ARE FOR JOE BIDEN AT HOME, WHO KNOWS.
BUT HISTORY WILL LOOK ON JOE BIDEN'S PERFORMANCE IN THIS AS
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF HIS ENTIRE PRESIDENCY.
WHETHER IT'S ONE TERM OR TWO. ♪
>> EXTRAORDINARY COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT CONTINUES TODAY.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WRAPPING UP THAT HISTORIC TRIP TO EASTERN EUROPE.
THIS MORNING, HE MET WITH THE GROUP OF NATO COUNTRIES CLOSEST
TO RUSSIA'S BORDERS.
>> PRESIDENT PRAISED THE LEADERS AHEAD OF THE ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIA'S INVASION.
>> I'M DOING ALL RIGHT. WON'T WEAR A LANYARD FOR US ON
TV?
>> NOLAN
>> NOL LANYARDS.
>> THAT'S LIKE A RULE FOR US AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
♪ ♪
>> I DON'T USUALLY USE VISUAL AIDS, BUT HERE'S THIS PICK
AIDS, BUT HERE'S THIS PICTURE. EPIC, ICONIC WILL BE IN THE
HISTORY BOOKS PICTURE. TEN HOURS IN THE TRAIN, RIGHT?
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? WERE YOU STRESSED, TENSE,
WORRIED ABOUT SECURITY RISKS?
>> SO, ON THE WAY IN, WE WERE AWARE OF THE RISKS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED THING.
PRESIDENT GOING INTO AN ACTIVE WAR ZONE.
WHERE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE AIR SPACE, THE GROUND.
I THINK HE WAS FOCUSED ON WHAT HE WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.
I WAS FOCUSED ON WHAT CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG.
ON THE WAY OUT, HAVING HAD THE MEETINGS, HAVING BEEN ABLE TO
STAND IN KYIV AND SAY THAT ONE YEAR LATER, KYIV STANDS.
THE PRESIDENT FELT LIKE HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED WHAT HE HAD SET OUT
TO DO. I THOUGHT LET'S JUST GET TO THE
BORDER. LET'S GET BACK OUT.
>> THERE'S A PIECE OF REPORTING I WANT TO GET YOU TO CONFIRM OR
NOT. MEDVEDEV YESTERDAY SAID THAT THE
U.S. WAS GIVEN SECURITY KBARN U.S. WAS GIVEN SECURITY KBAGARP
GUARANTEED BEFORE THE TRIP.
>> FALSE. WE NOTIFIED THE RUSSIANS THAT
THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE TRAVELING TO KYIV.
THEY ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT AND THAT WAS THE TOTAL OF OUR
COMMUNICATION WITH THE RUSSIANS.
>> SO WE HAD PUTIN'S SPEECH YESTERDAY.
THE BIGGEST NEWS OUT OF THAT WAS SUSPENSION OF THEIR PARTITION
SUSPENSION OF THEIR PARTIT PARTICIPATION IN NEW START.
ARE YOU MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THIS THING COULD GO
NUCLEAR OR LESS WORRIED?
>> WE HAVE TO BE SOBER AT THE STAKES, WHICH ARE THAT RUSSIA IS
A NUCLEAR POWER. IT'S A HUGE NUCLEAR ARSONAL AND
ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CHARGES TO HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM IS
SUPPORT THE UKRAINIANS TO THE HILT, BUT ALSO LET'S NOT GET
INTO WORLD WAR III. AND WE'VE HAD TO THINK ABOUT
THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOW, HOW DO YOU JUDGE THAT RISK
EXACTLY? IT'S NOT A SCIENCE.
THERE'S NO FORMULA. AND I CAN'T SAY THAT WHEN I GO
TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, I THINK THE NEXT DAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
NUCLEAR EXCHANGE. I DON'T THINK THAT.
BUT IT IS A RISK. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
FACTOR INTO OUR DECISION MAKING.
>> HOW DO WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO BACK UKRAINE TO THE HILT FOR AS
LONG AS IT TAKES WHILE ALSO NOT HAVING IT ESCALATE IN THE WAY
YOU JUST DESCRIBED? AND ONE OF THE EASY LINE TO
DRAW, NO GROUND TROOPS IN UKRAINE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER LINES THAT ARE HARDER.
YOU'VE GOT THESE F-16 PEOPLE OUT HERE.
GIVE THE FIGHTER JETS. JUST TALK ABOUT THE DELICATE
BALANCING ACTS.
>> THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN PICK UP A GUIDE BOOK AND FLIP TO
THE PAGE. HOW DO YOU BALANCE SUPPORT AND
ESCALATION RISKS. WE HAVE TO JUDGE THAT THROUGH
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS. THROUGH READING THE REACTION OF
THE ADVERSARY. THROUGH WHAT IS NECESSARY ON THE
BATTLEFIELD VERSUS WHAT IS JUST A NICE TO HAVE.
AND ULTIMATELY, THE DECISION LANDS ON THE DESK OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> BIDEN MAKES CLEAR, THE STAKES HAVE BEEN SET.
DEMOCRACY VERSUS AUTOCRACY. IT'S VERY LONG, DOMESTIC,
FOREIGN, BOTH. IS THIS LIKE IN THE END, WHAT
HISTORY JUDGES HIM ON? GIVEN THE STAKES THAT WE JUST
LAID OUT, IS THIS NOT THE KIND OF DEFINING ISSUE?
>> YOU'RE ASKING A BIAS PARTY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I WORK ON,
BUT --
>> JUST ASKING YOU WHAT HE THINKS.
>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S NOT SOME COMPETITION BETWEEN HIS DOMESTIC
AND FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA. THE INVESTMENTS IN CORE AMERICAN
STRENGTH. IN JOBS AND SUPPLY CHAINS,
INFRASTRUCTURE, THOSE ARE GOING TO LAST FOR DECADES.
>> YEAH.
>> STANDING UP TO AGGRESSION IN EUROPE, THE LARGEST LABD
EUROPE, THE LARGEST LAND WAR IN THE LAST 75 YEARS, THAT ALSO IS
GOING TO RESONATE FOR DECADES. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, THESE TWO
THINGS ARE OF A PIECE BECAUSE WHAT THEY ARE IS A CONVICTION OF
A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES THAT DEMOCRACY HAS TO DELIVER FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACIES HAVE TO DELIVER FOR A SAFER
WORLD. [ CHANTING ]
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN COMPLETING HIS HISTORIC TRIP OVERSEAS
TODAY.
>> LEAVING BEHIND A POWERFUL MESSAGE ON THE WORLD STAGE.
THE PRESIDENT'S L THE PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE NOW,
CONVINCING A SKEPTICAL AMERICAN PUBLIC TO STAY WITH UKRAINE.
♪ ♪
>> WE'RE HERE TODAY IN EAST PALESTINE TO SHOW OUR LOVE AND
SUPPORT FOR OUR FELLOW AMERICANS.
>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO EAST PALESTINE, THE
SITE OF THE TOXIC TRAIN WRECK.
>> FORMER PRESIDENT BLASTING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR WHAT HE
IS CALLING A LACK OF RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS.
>> AND THIS ALMOST EXACTLY MIMICS A WHITE HOUSE
PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER TRIP.
>> I LIKE THAT ONE, BUT THIS ONE'S EVEN NICER.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHEN YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL OF THE
POLITICIANS GET HERE, INCLUDING BIDEN, THEY GET BACK FROM
TOURING UKRAINE, THAT HE'S GOT SOME MONEY LEFT OVER.
IF THEY DOEPT IF THEY DOEN'T COME BACK AND GIE
YOU THE TREATMENT YOU NEED, WE WILL BE BACK.
♪ ♪
>> WE HAD JOE BIDEN IN EUROPE ON THE WORLD STAGE.
CABLE TELEVISION'S BUILDING UP THIS SPLIT SCREEN CAN BIDEN IN
WARSAW, INCREDIBLE SPEECH, ADORING CROWDS.
>> AND THEN PUTIN GIVING HIS SPEECH.
>> AND THIS WEIRD KIND OF COLD SETTING WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE
HIS YOU KNOW, UNHAPPY EMPLOYEES. ADVANTAGE, BIDEN.
>> THEN YESTERDAY, WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT SPLIT SCREEN WITH
BIDEN MEETING WITH THE BUCHAREST NINE.
NOT A LOT OF AMERICANS KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
AND MEANWHILE, YOU HAVE TRUMP WITH HURTING AMERICANS.
IN EAST PALESTINE.
>> WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO VOTERS THIS PLACES LIKE OHIO?
A TRAIN WRECK IN THEIR BACKYARD OR A FOREIGN WAR THEY KNOW
LITTLE ABOUT.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO CAME OUT TO
ATTACK HIM FOR GOING ABROAD.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS ACCUMULATING HERE IN OUR COUNTY
ACCUMULATING HERE IN OUR COCOUN THAT HE IS NEGLECTING.
>> YES, HE'S IN POLAND, BUT SHOULDN'T HE BE IN OHIO?
>> I WOULD HAVE GONE TO EAST PALESTINE BEFORE KYIV.
>> THEY'RE SPENDING MORE IN UKRAINE AND MORE AND MORE
AMERICANS ARE QUESTIONING IF THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD BE
SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON. THE PROBLEM IS BIDEN WILL NEVER
GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR UKRAINE IF IT GOES WELL, BUT IF IT GOES
BADLY, HE'LL GET THE BLAME.
>> ALL THE BLAME.
>> THIS WEEK TESTIFIES TO THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A WARTIME OR
WAR ADJACENT PRESIDENT. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF POLICY AND
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS IN THESE FOREIGN CONFLICTS AND WE'VE JUST
BEGUN TO PEEL THE ONION.
>> THE WORLD MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE RUSSIA'S FULL SCALE IN
SINCE RUSSIA'S FULL SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE.
>> ONE FULL YEAR OF BLOODSHED AND BRUTALITY AT THE HANDS OF
RUSSIAN FORCES. ♪
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BIDEN'S TRIP THIS WEEK?
>> FOR ME, I JUST COULDN'T STOP CRYING WHEN I WOKE UP TO THE
NEWS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN WALKING AROUND KYIV.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BRAVE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND
IMPORTANT.
>> LITERALLY CRYING?
>> YEAH. I THINK IT'S SO INDICATIVE OF
HOW OUR POLITICS ARE. THE TRIP GOT MIXED REVIEWS.
>> AS POLARIZING AS PRESIDENT BUSH'S PRESIDENCY WAS FROM GO, I
DON'T REMEMBER PEOPLE CRITICIZING HIS CHOICES TO
TRAVEL AND BOOST THE TROOPS, BUT TO SEE AND TO LEARN THAT THIS
TRIP TO KYIV WAS POLITICAL IN THE EYES OF SOME.
>> YEAH, THAT REALLY STRUCK ME AS WELL.
NOT ONLY WERE REPUBLICANS NOT NEUTRAL, THEY WENT ON THE ATTACK
WHILE OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF WAS IN A WAR ZONE.
>> I THINK UPWARDS OF 80, 90% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT UKRAINE'S ERAT
EFFORTS TO DEFEAT RUSSIA, GET THEM OUT.
SO REPUBLICANS PUT THEMSELVES ON THE OTHER SIDE.
NOT JUST OF JOE BIDEN, BUT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IMPORTANTLY, PRESIDENT BIDEN DOES HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR
ALL OF THE A AND MITCH McCONNELL CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND BACKED
BIDEN. IT ISN'T UNANIMOUS.
REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A VOCAL PRO PUTIN FACTION.
>> WE BOTH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN BUSH WORLD.
YOU WORKED FOR JEB AND GEORGE W. NEITHER ONE OF US WORKED FOR
H.W. BUT I THINK WE BOTH KNEW HIM.
IT'S AN INTERESTING CONTRAST TO THINK THAT H.W. FOUGHT A
SUCCESSFUL WAR AND LOST RE-ELECTION.
GEORGE W. WON A RE-ELECTION AND LOST A WAR.
>> I THINK WHAT BOTH PRESIDENTS BUSH WOULD SAY IS THAT IN BOTH
INSTANCES, THEY DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT FOR THE
COUNTRY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO ABOUT DECISIONS LIKE
THOSE IN ANY OTHER MANNER. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY
TRANSFERRABLE PARALLEL. YOU CAN'T MAKE THESE DECISIONS
WITH POLITICS IN MIND BECAUSE I THINK IT'S TOO TRANSPARENTLY
CYNICAL IF YOU DO THAT. I THINK THE VOTERS WOULD SEE
THROUGH THAT.
>> QUESTION FOR BIDEN IS GOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE KNOW
HOW LONG THESE THINGS CAN GO. AT SIX MONTHS, A YEAR FROM NOW,
THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE BLOOD, MONEY AND NOT A LOT OF PROGRESS.
WHEN WHAT HAPPENS TO JOE BIDEN?
>> I THINK JOE BIDEN CAN REST ASSURE THAT THE MIDTERM
ELECTIONS SHOW THAT THE COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS THREATS TO
DEMOCRACY. THE VOTERS TOLD THE COUNTRY,
THEY TOLD REPUBLICANS, TOO, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR
DEMOCRACY IS THREATENED. SOME OF THAT IS THROUGH JANUARY
6th. SOME OF THAT IS THROUGH
UNDERSTANDING THE BRAZENNESS OF WHAT PUTIN'S DOING IN UKRAINE.
WHAT I THINK IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT IS WHETHER THEY WILL
STITCH THEM TOGETHER IN A GLOBAL SENSE.
BUT I THINK THAT IS THE STORY TELLING MISSION OF PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTERS ARE WITH THEM AS THEY TRY
TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND ABROAD.
>> THE QUESTION IS CAN BIDEN STITCH THAT NARRATIVE TOGETHER?
>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THOUGH YOU HAVE TO TREAT
VOTERS LIKE THEY'RE SMART. I THINK VOTERS ARE SMART.
YOU HAVE A PRETTY RECEPTIVE AUDIENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHETHER HE CAN STITCH SOMETHING TOGETHER IS THE $64 MILLION
POLITICAL QUESTION. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS THE
ANSWER TO IT YET.
>> UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY DELIVERING A SPEECH AS HE MARKS
ONE YEAR SINCE PUTIN LAUNCHED HIS INVASION.
>> PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SPEAKING TO SOLDIERS AND TO THE FAMILIES
OF FALLEN SOLDIERS. ♪
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]
♪ ♪
>> THE WORLD HAS A LOT RIDING ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN UKRAINE AND
SO DOES PRESIDENT BIDEN. ADMIRAL, HE HAD ONE OF THOSE
IMPORTANT ROLES IN THE U.S. MILITARY, WHICH IS SUPREME
ALLIED COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN EUROPE.
SO HE'S THE RIGHT PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN
UKRAINE.
>> SO WE'RE ENTERING YEAR TWO OF THIS CONFLICT.
WHAT'S THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR HOW IT GOES FOR UKRAINE THE
NEXT TWO YEARS?
>> IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TANKS, THE
ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS THAT ARE FLOWING IN NOW FROM NATO,
WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF AM WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
AMMUNITION, THE RIGHT COACHING AND IF WE ADDED TO IT FIGHTER
AIRCRAFT, THAT WOULD GIVE THE UKRAINIANS THE ABILITY TO
CONDUCT TRULY OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE UKRAINIANS TO FLANK THE RUSSIANS.
THAT COULD BE A MILITARY PIVOT.
>> YEAH.
>> IN ONE YEAR, PUTIN HAS HAD PROBABLY 100,000 KILLED AND
100,000 WOUNDED. THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
>> IN TERMS OF MORALE WITHIN THE COUNTRY OR --
>> YES.
>> UNSUSTAINABLE FROM A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE?
>> UNSUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT FOR PUTIN.
AND THEN ANY TIME YOU LOSE A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINE, YOU
HAVE LOST A VERY WELL TRAINED ASSET THAT YOU THEN HAVE TO
RECREATE AND THEIR SYSTEM IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO RECREATE IT.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRING LINE, ZELENSKYY HAS A
BURN RATE AND HIS BURN RATE IS US.
IT'S OUR PATIENCE. HOW LONG ARE WE WILLING TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPLY THE FUNDING. THE EQUIPMENT.
AS THE YEAR GOES ON, BOTH SIDES WILL FEEL PRESSURE TO COME
TOWARDS SOME KIND OF A NEGOTIATION.
>> HANDS DOWN, DO YOU THINK UKRAINE CAN WIN THIS WAR?
>> DEPENDS WHAT YOU MEAN BY WIN.
>> ZELENSKYY'S DEFINITION IS NOT AN INCH OF TERRITORY GOES TO
RUSSIA INCLUDING WHAT WAS ANNEXED.
>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE UKRAINIANS COULD FORCE THE
RUSSIANS OUT OF THEIR NATION. I THINK THAT'S LESS LIKELY
MILITARILY THAN A KOREAN WAR LIKE ENDING IN WHICH THERE'S
TERRITORY HELD ON BOTH SIDES. THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT
CONTINUE. A FROZEN CONFLICT I THINK IS THE
MORE LIKELY OUTCOME.
>> WHAT'S A WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE?
>> I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ABOUT A ONE IN THREE
CHANCE RUSSIA CONCEIVABLY COULD DO A TWO PRONGED MILITARY
ATTACK. ONE FROM THE NORTH.
ONE FROM THE SOUTH. FLANK THE UKRAINIAN FORCES AND
THEN TURN AND DRIVE TOWARD KYIV.
>> WORST WORST CASE SCENARIO. RUSSIA IS ON THE EASTERN FLANK
OF NATO'S BORDER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> CREPE
>> CREUKRAINIANS WOULD CONTINUE FALL BACK TO THE WEST OF THEIR
COUNTRY. I THINK AT THAT POINT, NATO
PROBABLY PUTS BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND A NO FLY SEWN
GROUND AND A NO FLY SEZONE UP BECAUSE AT THIS STAGE, WE ARE
NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THE UKRAINIANS.
>> IS THAT WORLD WAR III?
>> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T SELF-DETER, TAKE COUNSEL
OF OUR FEARS AND SAY, OH, PUTIN'S GOT NUCLEAR LESSONS.
THAT'S REALLY SCARY.
>> THE LESSON OF THIS LAST YEAR.
>> IF WE HOLD OUR NERVE, I THINK IT WILL BE RUSSIA WHO CRACKS.