Piotr Olegovich Tolstoy (Russian Author Leo Tolstoy’s great-great-grandson), the Deputy Chairman of the Russian assembly known as Duma, appeared on BFM Régions, a French network of local news television channels. He debated six French journalists about the Ukraine\Russia conflict. Unfortunately, the French journalists’ conduct was unprofessionalism and detached from reality. The linked YouTube video has an English closed caption and is just over an hour long.
The French journalists claim that Russia doesn’t have a military strategy. Still, Tolstoy makes it clear that the Ukrainian military is taking massive losses and will lose by attrition regardless of increasing NATO support. Some of the debate’s highlights are as follows with the linked captioned video time.
- European support for Ukraine is extending the war. [02:12.710]
- European countries are following America’s lead in solidarity with Ukraine. [05:25.740]
- Journalists make an issue about the Wagner Group paramilitary are mercenaries. Tolstoy points out the hypocrisy that Canada has the Mozart regiment, and there are also Polish and American mercenaries. [07:45.180]
- Claim that the Wagner Group uses criminals. Tolstoy points out that the French Legion used criminals and enlistees of foreign origin. [11:05.510]
- Negotiations can only end the conflict. [13:17.010]
- The military operation is about the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine. [18:38.8000]
- French journalist says the European Parliament has voted to create an international tribunal and that Tolstoy could be tried as a criminal. [19:43.540]
- Europe has no right to judge Russia after applauding the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. [21:14.280]
- NATO bombed the Serbs into submission. [26:53.770]
- If Ukraine uses American long-range weapons, Russia will take measures to protect the civilian population in Moscow. [30:03.340]
- Claims that Russia deported two million Ukrainians to Russia and was involved in child trafficking. Tolstoy says Russian ethnic families sought refuge in Russia and that over 7 million Ukrainians left for Europe. [36:36.990]
- Ukrainians hide their tanks and artillery in the neighborhoods where people live, creating unnecessary civilian casualties. [36:36.990]
- Refusing Russian gas has resulted in Europe buying from America at three times the price and paying a premium for American tanks. [41:15.720]
- If France, German, and other European countries support the Ukrainian war effort, they are, by nature, enemies of Russia. [52:24.370]
- It crosses the red line if NATO and foreign soldiers become involved in the Ukraine war. [53:39.73]
- Turkey is not an enemy since it doesn’t blow up gas pipelines like Europe. [57:26.430]
The West’s mass psychosis, at worse, could lead to World War III. At the least, it will lead to the de-industrialization of Europe and the dissolution of the European Union and NATO. Net-zero emissions and transgender transitioning will be the least of the West’s concerns.
Bob Bishop is a forensic investigator and a retired CPA. He has written for the American Thinker, Gateway Pundit, Sonar21, and CorsiNation.
Tolstoy: “Russia was your [Europe’s] only resource to remain a civilization in the future.”
Truth right there. And that’s also the cause of the French journalists’ hate.
“…. French journalists…”?? Waddaya mean, Sir? That’s an oxymoron used to name an extinct and long gone species. The usual MSM French channels seem to be getting from bad to worse in their acute affliction of Russophobia coupled with one-sided thinking that refuses absolutely to even contemplate the hint of a dissonant voice in their concert of pro-Z “Slava Ukraina” media symphony. It’s even worse than the Soviet Union press or North Korea’s. Here’s for you the country that once prided itself in “Vive la différence”. It’s Big Brother revisited in France.
Three weeks ago … it was about time …
Mr. Tolstoï, true gentleman …
Have you also noticed the “niveau” of the French MSM … (pas mal)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Ko4OLysy0&t=18s
Et “paroles, paroles, paroles …”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uHS0pqJzeM
The young Russian diplomat is awesome.
Today it’s hard to comprehend that it was actually the French who invented modern diplomacy. Just a few decades ago France still had a vibrant journalistic/philosophical scene. But it seems like the age of Internet has brought the French’ intellectual level down to that of the rest of us. Without it there’s not much left of France.
“Je ne pense plus, donc je ne suis plus” – Not Descartes
Watch the comments of the French on the 2 videos and you will see for yourself that the French (not the journalists under the orders of the oligarchy) are not so disconnected from reality.
Good, that is probably true in many countries where taxpayers are supporting NATO folly.
This war will be an epic transition. I have watched the US turn from “making” things into a bullshit factory. 40% of our economy is finance!! Excuse me? What does finance make? We will have electric cars!! But no oil or gas drilling. And it has worked because people still take our printed funny money. But the sanction horseshit opened the worlds eyes.
Whether you or on our side or not now? Do you not think people look at this and go, shit, they could destroy our economy. Time to diversify away from the United State of Loony.
And Russia has things you cannot print or make an “NFT” of. Oil, gas, food, minerals. These idiots have handed the future of the world over to Russia. They are actually the richest country in the world. When you look at the make believe shit that makes up US GDP? Our health care sector. We put doctors 1 Million in the hole on student debt. Then we put all of the country in the hole on expensive medical care. And that is GDP.
Russia has cheap education and does not make tinpot Gods out of doctors. It’s a fucking job. And their GDP is lower. In real world terms, in concrete no bullshit items. Russia owns the world.
And we made the mistake of letting them win a war. Remember their national pride. And showed the rest of the world another USA debacle. The US “Death Star” not going to blow up like in Star Wars. It is going to slowly rust and fall apart as it meanders slower and slower.
“And we made the mistake of letting them win a war.”
Can you please expand upon this statement? Define ‘we’ and ‘them’.
Russia fully won the hybrid war in Crimea. The victory by 2020 wasn’t complete in the eastern provinces due to under powered military availability there. Now it will be complete.
There is a section in this about that.
https://www.academia.edu/77714977/Resistance_Operating_Concept_ROC_
I agree with this writers use of the phrase “epic transition”. Well coined. That is precisely what it is turning out to be. And thank the powers that be for it.
“This war will be an epic transition.” An epic paradigm shift.
If nothing else, Russia has proven that self sufficiency in food, Energy and Military Strength will trump any banking system.
You’re not wrong!
One of my last training sessions before retirement in a large consumer products company was being led around blind folded by a co-worker(to show how much I needed my coworker). The exercise was led by a HR person who thought that exercise was good for teamwork who is now the top HR person in another company. It was stupid and appropriate in 1st grade.
Years back I would have stated that but I learned to not do that for the last 15 years.
I worked for a global DME company, and they blind folded teams and had one person for each team who wasn’t given instructions on putting together a disassembled bicycle. It was a total circus and proved nothing.
Much agreed on the ‘healthcare’ GDP comments. The US healthcare industry should be counted as an expense/liability against the GDP. Not part of it.
I don’t understand why Peter Tolstoy spoke at this trial, why crucify himself in front of witches and ghouls.
I also didn’t understand why Olympic athletes performed under a white flag.
I have not forgotten how they harassed the Olympic champion, figure skater Kamilla Valieva.
Mr. Tolstoï reacted with dignity…
Yes, Kamilla Valieva at the Winter Olympics (disgraceful…!) …
But A. Trusova won the silver medal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae6xhmDX48A
And A. Schcherbakova the gold:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm3rS8Nc4ds
He should have been more on top of his game. I.E. the French bring up some Wagner pardoned convict whose story ran in Figaro, for killing a magistrate. Problematic? Of course – but the proper response would have been to raise the pardon of that Ukrainian psychopath rapist murderer guilty of truly heinous crimes whose name escapes me, almost a year ago as soon as Zelensky stuck a gun in his hand and pointed him to the front.
Screw the French hypocrites. They’re not worthy of attention and Tolstoy should sharpen up his game.
Mr Tolstoy did exceptionally well. The French journalists were like ill disciplined children or TV game show hosts. I am even more impressed by the Russians.
(Unfortunately, my opinion of the Europeans is already rock-bottom. It cannot fall any lower. They are like kept mistresses and bastard children of America.)
Many in the West probably consider this a weakness and are mistaken. I am Russian, I am Roosky. So I can explain. It is not certain that Western people will understand, because we have a different mentality. The position of Russia (Russians, Putin) is to resolve issues and problems with opponents in a Christian way,
be open to dialogue as long as
until the last “red lines” are crossed. Of course, not all Russians are like that, some of our people act differently. I understand our leader, because I myself am like that – I forgive and negotiate peacefully until it becomes completely clear that it will never work out in a good way. Finally. And then –
decision is made depending on the situation.
forgive or punish. Punishment comes for the full package of trouble created. Full account for everything. The final. Punishment is not revenge, it is a way of redemption. It is unlikely that Google Translate will translate the meaning correctly, but try to understand it. These actions are not revenge for the sake of harm,
not a way to make money
get a benefit. It’s a Christian inevitability
.
Thank you for your insights, Russian. In reading Larry’s article yesterday, I was particularly touched by the dignified way in which the Wagner group treated the Ukrainian dead. Now, regarding those loud-mouthed French journalists, they struck me as being no different than the talking, lie-spewing airheads at CNN. Mr. Tolstoy mopped the floor with the whole lot of them. Regarding your statements about the Russian leadership taking principled Christian positions in trying to negotiate with the West, what they need to realize is that they are dealing with a pack of blood thirsty hyenas — perhaps the perfect metaphor describing America’s contemptible, Washington D.C. politicians. The Russian generals and field commanders will have to become Lion-like in their actions in order to defeat these ravenous scavengers.
I visited Normandy for the 75th anniversary with two 🇺🇸 WWII soldiers (my dad and his buddy, Omaha Beach then the Bulge, etc.). We couldn’t find a Mass to go to, there was only a Eucharistic minister available, who spoke a little English. When someone in our group got sick we had to go to the hospital in St. Lô. While there an older American women who hospitalized heard us speaking English and asked us to ask the staff for a priest to hear her confession. We were able to reach the Eucharistic minister who told us that it’s VERY hard to find a priest to hear a confession because they’re were many around anymore as most people in France don’t even believe in God anymore (not kidding, while she said so lamentably, she said it).
That’s not something new. Mass attendance in France dropped below 50% sometime around 1750.
The cliché of the village bistro being on the other side of the square from the church so the husband could wait there for his wife coming out of Mass on sundays was old 100 years ago.
You use google translate from Russia and I use yandex translate from the US. It’s a topsy turvy world we live in these days.
Wish I was Russian right now my friend. Unfortunately I am Greek. But as a faithful Christian Orthodox I see Russians and Serbians as brothers and my God, I love your President.
Yes indeed. A western Christian who is not blinded by the propaganda narrative or reigning western paradigm wound have seen the Russian foreign policy approach prior to the launch of the SMO as a adaptation or modification of Matthew 18:15-17 in order to achieve a peaceful and God honoring result between her and the wicked nations “sinning” against her.
But of course the elites in the west are effectively no longer Christian so they didn’t even understand what was happening. Their ethics destroys their epistemology. They can’t see because they won’t see.
I think the value in Mr. Tolstoy enduring that pain is the communication not with the journalists, but with less biased people like us via this great post by Mr. Bishop. (Very nice work providing the links to key points made by Mr. Tolstoy!)
The threat from the French person (a pimp/whore of the EU) against Tolstoy seems demonstrative of collapse of mind in the speaker, a momentary lack of reason or he could be parroting the psychosis of those around him. The people deal with their so called representatives in good time.
The western powers demonstrate their disdain for other sovereign nations and their people almost every time they open their mouths.
Time for some “we have always been at war with Oceania” before very long. Some nations will have to jump ship to save themselves. Will they be allowed to leave?
Oh the hypocrisy…
I think the Western MSM is a lost cause as is the US, NATO and EU…they’re never going to admit they’re wrong and it appears that escalation is the likely way ahead–at least in the near term.
This doesn’t end with the Ukraine…I think we all realize that. New battlegrounds will emerge…more blood will be shed in the false name of the hegemon
Notice that the Russian representative does the interview in French, without any interpreters?
How many French politicians can do an interview in Russian? How many American politicians can conduct an interview in any language other than English?
It shows which part of the world has real accomplishments, and which part is full of hot air.
Bingo. Native English speakers are probably the group that knows the least number of foreign languages other than their own.
Tolstoy is cool as a cucumber. Love it. He’s not afraid of these dorks. He comes on their show, speaks their language, and answers all their questions with ease. If I were French, I’d be embarrassed by how shabbily these “journalists” behaved.
Bunch of snickering hyenas, IMO. Tolstoy put them to shame with his dignity.
Who cares what the French “journalists” think? For that matter, who cares what CNN/BBC/etc. “journalists” think. They are as much of journalists as I am a gymnast.
Or what any European thinks. They’re irrelevant and soon enough they’ll be at each others throats with recrimination, and when the dust settles I hope that the Russians continue to ignore them – they don’t deserve a lifeline.
Thoroughly enjoyed, Piotr Olegovich Tolstoy clean the floor with seven french mops
Will all be over soon…the Western Media are about to be irrelevant… Russian forces are stacking between Berdyansk and Mariupol….large concentrations….expect a Western thrust aimed at Odessa and Transnistria
How do they get to Odessa? I think taking land East of Dniper river before year is out is doable but Ukraine i dug in like an Alabama tick, uses civilians as human shields, and there is a massive river to cross to get to Odessa with all it’s risks in crossing and attendant logistic issues. Head of Wagner seems more realistic when he spoke of years not months to get there.
an increasingly younger tick with no ammo…
that said – i see no reason for RU to rush – let nato come to them.
‘How do they get to Odessa?’…
Get there they must. Ukraine must be land-locked at the very least to assure Russian freedom in the Black Sea and to diminish Ukraine’s viability as a state. Personally i don’t think it necessarily needs to be a bloody, full frontal assault with concomitant body count. If Russia continues the existing strategy of attrition, and targets infrastructure, Ukraine will soon become so weak as western support continues to atrophy, that Odessa will become vulnerable.
Wishful thinking? Maybe. But time benefits Russia and degrades Ukraine. Russia can play the game and if the bough bends low enough, the apple can be plucked
Cred to the author. I know how much effort it takes to give time-offsets to a video.
Hats off to you, sir.
Regardless of Rus future actions, the west govts are all leftist except Italy and uk (neither a real small gov conservative therefore leftist) AND ARE getting their 100 year wish of marching through the institutions and handing each of their countries total destruction on a silver platter to Russia just like Stalin fantasized for decades. No planes No tanks No arms. No munitions, No manufacturing No testosterone at least for the males. This is the final chapter of the cold War: done from the inside with the kgb instigating for decades and has now taken on a life of its own.
Exactly. All of the crazy, evil ideologies and stupid business decisions infecting the US were introduced and promoted by the Soviets and Chinese communists over a few decades – and it worked.
It’s kind of ironic that while those enemies patiently eroded the US and made us weak, ultimately it may lead to us unleashing nuclear hell on the world, including them. The commies were clever by half. 5D chess becomes negative 5D chess. We’re all diminished. There is no winning when you have to resort to evil. Screw Soviet Russia, commie China – and the US for succumbing to the introduced evil.
so if team biden loses it and blows up the world it’s the commies fault.
always nice to see american introspection at work.
Introspection is stating its ones own fault for allowing our leftists to do this to our respective western countries no matter what the external influences. If the majority commenting here believe the US never had any redeeming qualities at no time in its history and the soviets and maoists are the utopia they have always promised then I disagree with the majority. Also historically it’s German philosophers that gave the world communism, socialism and national socialism, and nihilism which have far more deaths from govt than capitalistic govts have had. The west has made numerous, deleterious unrecoverable titanic electoral and govt mistakes at the conniving of our depopulation obsessed leftists (yes including so called neocons) that have led to this uke catastrophe and many others (the list) and are likely doomed by our own hand. The east is doomed from self deluded notions of being isolated “christians” or good guys being picked on from the hegemonic west. There are zero good guys in the current war that for the first time is on the doorstep of a major combatant not a post ww2 proxy. This is the west’s fault for expansion of NATO beyond the 1990’s agreed to buffer states of the former Warsaw pact. This is the difference from all previous engagements via proxy (the list and many more in the 20th century). The internal corrective forces in all participating countries need to step in and eliminate the small number of individuals whose actions have caused this rapid precipitation to armegeddons valley of death. Azov & Wagner national socialists need to be put down completely without exception. What’s left of uke should be a buffer similar to west & east Germany never to make the mistake of reuninification.
United States has been directly responsible for the killings of millions people in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen and indirectly of millions of others through not by sanctions by US but by forcing other countries to sanction third countries. In Ukraine they have been the sole reason for nearly half a million killed and miamed and 17 million made refugees.
If there was justice every adult American who is satisfied with Democrats or Republicans needs to be hung by the neck with a fire under him/ her.
You dare ask about redeeming qualities!!!
Masr
Not denying any of your list, just pointing out 100’s of millions dead from Ussr and CCP. The US has redeeming qualities each of which has been periodically mentioned as desirous on this site. The evil scum and villainy has propelled itself to the top in the past 30 years. There are people here working to reverse it albeit under the radar since its now a totalitarian state.
Eric you are a confirmed idiot. Self-confirmed
newhill is back again with his ideological nonsense.DO NOT RESPOND AND HE WILL EITHER GO AWAY OR BE FORCED TO REANYLIZE WHAT HE THINKS IS REASON.
The UK Conservative party should be prosecuted under The Trades Description Act.
After twelve years of rule, the UK has descended even further towards a socialist dump.
Breaks my heart what the so called “Conservatives,” have allowed to happen.
“Socialist dump”, here is another misunderstanding of what Socialism means. One quick example, you by a bicycle, that’s Libertarianism or Capitalism if you prefer. However, the road you ride your bicycle on, assuming it doesn’t belong to your wealthy family, is an act of pure Socialism. We Americans are very individually independent, and if we didn’t have an entity, which could organize building public infrastructures and providing services, we would be in bad shape. Taking care of the orphans, widows, sick and the retired from a life of productivity, is Socialism and more importantly necessary for a healthy society. Now if what you might be complaining about is the abuse and incompetence of officials, I am with you all the way.
Demonizing any government is a Powell Memo, Thatcher and Regan redirection of taxes to corporations on the way to Fascism. The issue is not about big or small goverment anywhere but more efficient government. A government that grows to meet a challenge then shrinks back once the task is met doesn’t happen. It remains big and unnecessary. The reason is found in this management principal: every organization will be perpetuate its existence even if its purpose has been fulfilled. Look at NATO’s perpetuation of its existence and the cost to the World besides neglecting its original purpose.
“After twelve years of rule, the UK has descended even further towards a socialist dump.”
A “socialist dump …”?
Or a conservative, neocon, neo-feudal classist system ruled by a king?
Strange form of “socialism” …
Define socialism Andy. In the words of ‘The Princess Bride’, I don’t believe that word means really means what you think it does.
Why bother to continue to listen to Western European/American politicians?
One of the two female “journalists” is asking Piotr what it is that Russia has really accomplished after one year of war, with only a few minor successes. Minor successes? If a country loses over 20 percent of its territory, if, in addition, the lost territory is the most valuable land the country possesses (used to possess), if the country’s infrastructure has been catastrophically degraded by Russia’s constant shelling and bombing, if the country has lost well over 15 percent of its population either through desertion, emigration or war, if the country is now totally bankrupt–then what else it is that Russia should do to claim that she is winning–and will win–the war?!
“I don’t think, therefore I am not.”
Yes, you nailed it.
Being French/American I really enjoyed this interview. Tolstoy don’t play. People think Putin is hard core. There are apparently guys waiting in the wings who make Putin look like a pussy cat. His French is excellent as well.
My French wife asked me today if Russian was going to bomb France. People are more nervous over there than here in the US. I think his aggressive tone might not have been an accident.
While western journalists (lol) may appear crazy or dumb, they know what they can and cannot be for or against, what they can say or not say, if they want to keep their jobs and have a future in the business. Journalists used to have more leeway but things have changed in the last 10 years because of various reasons, explained here: The New Progressive World Order
I speak French fluently so didn’t need the translation. (The translation was by computer and made fairly big errors from time to time)
The host is speaking French at a forced high speed to try and confuse Tolstoy (whose educated polished French is 100% perfect). He was completely unsuccessful. His tone is very rude abruptly interrupting all the time. In the back ground are continuous dizzying images of Dresden like bombed out buildings.
The Norwegian defense minister General Erik Kristofferson whose killed numbers were quoted a lot as if they were the 10 commandments has some dirty laundry — His meteor like rise in Norway’s military system was due to an award from Afghanistan where he led a commando group to capture a Taliban leader. He neglected to report that American soldiers helped protect him during the raid and he burst into the wrong house belonging to an innocent brick layer house and nabbed the wrong man. This was immediately known by the US who reported it to the Norwegians but some how this all got lost he received The WAR CROSS WITH SWORD which lifted his career to where he is. He refuses to openly acknowledge these details uncovered by a journalist in 2022.
Well it is astounding how angry rude and misinformed these MSM journalist are.
how are those protests going in France? BTW speaking of the Olympics. One of the greatest trolls ever, went virtually unnoticed. The Chinese hockey team took a pregame knee to honor American culture.
I think Piotr Olegovich Tolstoy is an awesome person, but I think he’s arguing with pig headed people the European’s. I am European decent and have been in Europe twice to visit also was born there and lived two years before coming to Canada. My experience was not very good. I found the Europeans pig headed and the world revolves around them. My mom who was in concentration camps during the whole second world war disliked the Germans but hated the French go figure. I do not have the space and time to explain but she was somewhat right unfortunately at the end they where both awful. Below is two quotes to ponder with. Both pretty well sum up what happened in the interview.
Don’t argue with idiots, because they will take you to their level, and then they will beat you with experience.
Mark Twain
Also
“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
George Bernard Shaw
Jaz
This man Tolstoy is SUPURB. These panelists ask inane questions, they have zero idea of what is really going on and what is at stake. The French, English, whoever, in Europe are so immersed in their own banal existences that it is impossible for them to contemplate the feelings and needs of others. It is the hallmark of narcissism and psychopathy.
So many words seem to be wasted here because the formula is so simple: USA/UK/EU/NATO has pushed and provoked Russia since the demise of the USSR until the new entity that is the Russian Federation is fed up with it. It has had enough. They have witnessed the debacle in Serbia, Libya, Syria and just about everywhere else in the world and have finally come to the conclusion, reality based, that the only way to stop this shit is to do exactly what they say that they would do, de-nazify and de-militarize a malignant hostile presence right on their doorstep. It does not take an Einstein to figure this out with just a little degree of understanding of human nature. Something beyond the capacity of these morons.
I did not listen to the entire interview but hopefully I will soon. But is was an impressive performance by a poised and well educated Russian patriot that just by the fact that he speaks perfect French illustrates immense ignorance and disconnect that the French establishment has for what appears to be the coming of an earth shattering paradigm shift for these clueless patsy’s.
Just to finish, they had the audacity to suggest that Mr Tolstoy and Mr Putin be tried in an international tribunal ! So far a highlight of the interview in my opinion. Why he did not mention the murderous rampages by the Americans in now most all of the Middle Eastern countries where they have put their feet in the last 20 or more years, and continues in Palestine? As well as France in Africa. I wish that Mr Tolstoy would have been more aggressive on that particular subject.
I will write him a letter of congratulations and support.
“The French journalists claim that Russia doesn’t have a military strategy.”
Scott Ritter explains how Russia’s initial intention in the SMO was to minimize Ukrainian civilian casualties and simply get Kiev to the negotiating table, which it did successfully, only to have it torpedoed by Boris Johnson. Putin, like any democratically elected leader, had domestic political considerations and did not order a full mobilization or even characterize the situation as a war, with concerns about the economic impact of sanctions. Russia’s strategy evolved as the situation became clear, i.e., that the U.S. wanted to use Ukraine to destroy Russia. Thence came full mobilization and where we are today, with Russia about to steamroll their way to the Dnieper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE-NzUd1_HU
This is good 🙌 A different way of looking at the world
THE 3RD WORLD WAR HAS BEGUN : ESCALATION IN UKRAINE WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING – Emmanuel Todd
https://youtu.be/oAUD1gxEWxE
The tenor and immaturity coming from the French journalists is very concerning to me. It’s reminiscent of the hysterical and emotional argumentation I’d expect from a tiff amongst teenage girls. Veiled insults, false accusations, argumentation from emotion, no ability to compromise, and a seeming willingness to self-sabotage so long as the enemy is hurt in the process. Scary stuff. I am afraid the collective Western elites and media truly believe their own lies.
Tolstoy did well. But he would have been more effective if, instead of scoring debate points, he had spoken to the interests of the French populace and focused on amplifying the already vast chasm between French media elites and the common Frenchmen.
The West is absolutely chock full of this type of people now. Immature morons who throw a temper tantrum like a 3 year old if they don’t get exactly what they want or if someone tries to tell them reality doesn’t work like that.
100 % Agree, well said. Still did not listen to the second part of the interview but he really did miss with much potential facts about the West’s provocations and malignant activities all across the planet lately.
Mr.Tolstoy was an absolute gentleman. Knocked every ball pitched at him out of the field. The french were like a monkeys tea party.
How is it that now it is the Russian who presents as a cultured gentleman and the French who present as uncultured yahoos.
A bit of background on this silly and pitiful lot :
#1 is Ulysse Gosset a journalist with a 40year+ career. You’d think he’d bring a bit of intelligence in the debate? Nope.
#2 is Elsa Vidal, head of the russian section of the French radio RFI. She speaks Russian and she’s a rabid Russian hater, a very common occurence in French medias. Though I have yet to find a French journalist fluent in English who hates America. Russia is special.
#3 is French army colonel Michel Goya. He owns a blog where regular commenters write Russia or Russians “ruSSia” “ruSSians”. Get the idea? Yeah it’s smart.
Goya is a deluded idiot who posts detaited erudite studies that prove that Russia loses…he’s certainly what Martyanov describes as a “Sandhurst asshole”
#4 is former French army officer Guillaume Ancel. He served in Rwanda in 1994 and ever since he’s been on a mission to “prove” French soldiers launched the missiles that kick-started the Tutsi genocide. He left the army in 2005 so he’s probably well-aware of the modern art of warfare (just kidding).
Ancel is a rabid lying anti-Russia idiot and imo a paid shill.
#5 (the jewel in the crowd of shit?) is former Russian spy Serguei Jirnov, a dude who defected to France in the 80’s. Logically he owes his very life to his French minders who protect him on a day-to-day basis, so Jirnov is basically a puppet sent to French medias to sing the “Putin = Hitler” song.
#6 is Pauline Simonet a nobody (ethnic quota?).
Western Press industry is now more propaganda, entertainment and advertising than useful information.
Western press decay was accelerated by a lot of factors : billionaires ownership , dependency from advertiser , big tech, or government subventions, “fact checkers” owned by intelligence agency and , last but not least, the whole narratives and agenda thing.
See BFM for an example , owned by a Billionaire , third of content is advertising , highly subsidized , sources it’s “news” only from Bellingcat, ISW or the Majors AP, Reuteurs, AFP …
Youtubers actually watched BFM for the full 24 hours not long ago … and guess what ? The time spend to actually broadcast what can be called “News” was a whooping total of 3 minutes per Day. You can test on CNN , MSNBC or DW , figures will be the same.
Fortunately for us , Internet is a thing .
THE FRENCH ARE LYING and INSOLENT !
I would have discontinued talking top such a bunch of ZIOANGLOSAXON ASSLICKERS ,, Their TONGUES must be BLACK ::: and they do not deserve a serious Discussion..
They deserve to LOOSE and LOOSE MAGNIFICENTLY plus a KICK IN THE ASS
THe JOURNALISTS PRESENT ARE IDIOTS !
Imagine what it is to be actually French and having such a band of ******* interviewing the Deputy Chairman of Russian Federation. “sight” … french Diplomacy is definitely a thing of the past … well, thank you Macron !
As an average french , I despise this kind of “follow up” policy , we had Talleyrand , we had Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis de Richelieu (it’s not the Cardinal one), we had De Gaulle in 1965, we saw Dominique de Villepin in 2003 , where the fuck are those guy’s spirit when the world actually need it ? We used to find solutions to problems !!!
What would the average Russian seeing this shit think ? It’s infuriating !
Yup. Got you media.
They all do it-it is like junior high school.
They seemed like they were looking to tweet something that makes them look smart and snarky.
“What would the average Russian think…”
In Russia, those who are interested have already seen Tolstoy’s interview. And they already thought that they had not heard or seen anything new from the Europeans.
But! I can tell you with all responsibility that it is extremely difficult to make Russians treat the peoples of Europe and America badly. And to all non-European peoples too.
Russians are guided primarily by the good features of the mentality and the achievements of culture, they remember bad qualities when they are too hostile to Russians.
With a certain stretch, the Poles and the Balts can be excluded from this rule. But even in this case, the average Russian will always remember that there are many good people among them. The Ukrainians went too far. It was necessary to try very hard for the Russian to say that we despise the Ukrainians.
Such is the Russian mentality. Although I myself do not really like such an all-conquering friendliness.
I would like to see these “press-titutes” talk and question their own leaders like that ! That said, Tolstoï could have been way more convincing and explicative in countering the flood of critics.
The french tv host has invited a herd of anti Russian personalities to attack Mr Tolstoy. He should have spoken in Russian and not put himself at the merci of these fast yelling crows.
This is not an interview it is a disturbing display of aggressive and biased behaviour. The host is totally hysterical using extremely cheap arguments.
I wonder if this is not to trigger a renewal of the fading support for Ukraine in France as well as hiding France impotence in affecting the path of the war. Mr Tolstoy calm and measured replies are in total contrast with the vulgar and cheap shots of the supposed knowledgeable personalities. I could not stand it more than a few minutes. This confirms to me that France has lost its dignity.
First thing first, thank you Larry for this blogg, much appriciated.
At around 28:30 – 29:10, talks about Finland and Sweden,
he is very clear that “moustiques” or “mosquitoes” are
pro-russian. Can somebody please explain what or who are these
mosquitos. My mediocre google skills are failing me and its driving
me crazy just lika a mosquito-bite.
I didn’t understand this point either, and I’m also interested in what Tolstoy was hinting at.
Thank you for replying
I could be wrong, but I think one finds part of the answer in the Finnish Civil War and maybe a bit in the Finnish Winter War. A wound that is not healed and emotions that are still very much alive.
@Just a reader
I was looking for explanations on this point in the Russian segment of the Internet. But I found only one mention, where it was said: not every journalist will understand this banter.
Perhaps your version is correct. Perhaps the version with a hint that Finland was part of the Russian Empire is true, and the memory of this connection is deeply embedded in the Finns at the gene level, as opposed to the Europeans, whose historical memory contains antagonism towards Russia and Russians.
That is, the Finns mentally do not completely belong to Western civilization, part of their mentality belongs to Russian civilization.
The most interesting part for me was when a journalist asked if Russia was afraid of the war spreading further than Ukraine. Tolstoy’s reply (paraphrasing): when we liberate Ukraine we can look in the eyes of those European politicians who supported this war against Russia and see what happens. Followed by shocked silence from the journalists. Not a “No” or a “maybe” – we’ll just leave that one open for another day. Shat their panties….
The crazy ‘journalists’ have no decency. Saw the whole video. The worst was the ex kgb guy. what a total piece of shit. These guys talk abt Russia losses when these armies cannot even fight for a week. Pathetic.
Good retort by Mr Toltsoy regarding the french foreign legion. Should have called them American puppets non stop.
Definitively the west press”titute” is lost. We can not await other behavior than misinformation and manipulation. It is a shame of this side of globe to have such stupid as journalist.
I got the impression the Russian was pleased
that the media guy was clueless regarding Russian strategies, logistics and casualties.
It is a premise of good negotiation techniques to have good information and guard what you have. Disinformation is very good. Many are stupid. Russians know that.
His last comments should of been, “I hope you have a good night, as for me I am going to finish watching the film The Sorrow and the Pity.”
I saw this linked over at Mr Martyanov’s blog so great to see it shared here yet only had the stomach to watch 30 minutes as the arrogance and insanity from the cocky French had me wanting to smash my laptop!
I hand it to Mr Tolstoy who held his own and as a Serb he was right to call out the “Frogs” for their criminal bombing of the Serbs in 1995 and 1999 for which they lost a downed Mirage over Bosnia and had to beg President Milosevic to hand the two captive pilots over…
Seven against one. Not a fair fight. The French would need at least a dozen to match Mr. Tolstoy rhetorically.
Z
He could have did better in some spots, but I must say he’s quite a good speaker. Speaks French very well.
Does Ukraine have any more Turkish drones left? All I’ve seen for months now are just little quad copters on the Ukrainian side… The Turkish question was really the only half decent point the French made during the entire thing which Tolstoy didn’t have a very good answer too. Turkey’s played a clever game.
But gotta say, the French side doesn’t seem to have any idea at all what’s been going on. Saying hasn’t Russia already lost? Wut? Propaganda works.