Vladimir Pozner: How The United States Created Vladimir Putin (2026 Edition)

An appeal to ordinary citizens to look past official narratives and investigate facts independently.

Pozner critiques mainstream American media for portraying Putin as a "Hitler-like enemy," which he believes mirrors the state-controlled media in Russia. He argues this "propaganda war" fuels grassroots anti-Americanism in Russia that did not exist during the original Cold War. Key Historical Turning Points

U.S.-led interventions in Yugoslavia and Kosovo, which occurred without Russian consent and were seen as a lack of respect for Russian interests. An appeal to ordinary citizens to look past

In talk, Pozner warns against 'dangerous moment ... - YaleNews

In his lecture, veteran journalist Vladimir Pozner argues that current tensions between Russia and the West are not inevitable, but the result of specific U.S. foreign policy decisions made after the Cold War. Key Historical Turning Points U

Pozner identifies several events that fueled Russian resentment and distrust:

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Pozner contends the U.S. could have treated Russia as a partner—similar to the Marshall Plan after WWII. Instead, it adopted a policy of containment and superiority, often referred to as the Wolfowitz Doctrine , which viewed Russia as a "second-rate country" rather than a superpower. foreign policy decisions made after the Cold War

Pozner breaks his argument into two primary categories: political strategy and media representation.