Yes, that Fiona Hill. The one who testified at Trump's impeachment trial.
A former member of the National Security Council (2017-2019), she is a senior fellow at Brookings who spoke last week on a webcast hosted by the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Kennan director, Matthew Rojansky, led the discussion in a program titled: The Putin Profile: A Conversation with Dr. Fiona Hill.
Vladimir Putin has practically sucked all the "oxygen" out of Russia with his international agenda and his neglect of domestic affairs, Dr. Hill began her talk. Hence, demonstrations throughout Russia (particularly in the Far East).
"Soviet times" had many more "checks and balances," but since 2000, Putin has become "the state."
Rather than paying attention to Russia, Putin focuses on the world at large, vying to become an "elder statesman." He wants to regain Russia's "seat at the table" and get Russia back in the mix as a great power with big global ambitions which explains his interest in Syria, Venezuela, Libya, the Middle East, and Africa.
"'Hey!'" Putin says (quoting Dr. Hill): "'We've still got the ability to project force" and "be at the table."
He's "obsessed" with the U.S., but this "mud wrestling" does not advance his program.
One of the reasons Putin's leadership role in Russia was extended until possibly 2036 by approval last month of constitutional amendments, is because he was (is?) "increasingly seen as a "'lame duck.'"
"Where are all the fresh ideas?" to make Russia great? Perpetual cycles of conflict are "not very helpful."
Answering a question from a viewer about Trump's re-election, Dr. Hill said Putin has more to gain by "upsetting America" and "sowing discord" which will be more difficult for Russia to achieve if there's a large voter turnout in the U.S.
"It's clear he wants to see a weaker U.S. president no matter who he (sic) is." A "fairly diminished U.S. president" will be good for Russia.
"The more we're in a fight with Russia," she said (she became a U.S. citizen in 2002), "the less we can focus on bigger issues." Arms control is a "necessary endeavor."
The "heavy breathing" and "hysteria we have" in the U.S. about Russia cannot compare to what "we" should be focusing on when it comes to China.
She has met Putin several times and "in some respects, what you see is someone who's grown much more comfortable" in his role(s).
"He's decided to put on many faces," a man "who has thought a lot about his brand" (which threatens to grow stale), riding shirtless on a horse. All these actions "appear deliberate to signal his vigor to the rest of the world, because, 'Hey! Don't mess with me!'" is the message he tries to convey.
She was not saying, she emphasized, that "he's lost his edge," but he's "kind of lost [with] what's going on domestically."
Mentioned several times during the conversation was her book, Mr. Putin: Operative at the Kremlin (2013), co-authored with Clifford Gaddy.
patricialesli@gmail.com
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