- Obama stated that he was concerned by the “weak communication” between Washington and Moscow.
- He stated that Putin had “consolidated decision-making to a greater degree than during the Cold War.”
- The comments were made on the Obama administration alum-run podcast, “Pod Save America”
Barack Obama, former President, said in a podcast that he was “concerned about the weak” communication between Moscow and Washington following the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine.
Obama said that he tried to make diplomatic contacts with Putin and Dmitry Medvedev during his time in the White House. A newly released episode of “Pod Save America” that even during the tumultuous Cold War — which lasted from 1947 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 — the two countries could speak on the phone and engage with each other.
“The lines of communication between the White House (and the Kremlin) are likely as weak as they’ve been for a very long period. Obama said that there was still a sense that one could pick up a phone to communicate clearly even at the lowest points of Cold War. Telled hosts Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor — all former staffers in his administration.
He said, “A lot that is broken down and it’s not the fault of our government. I believe that we are dealing now with a Russian regime which is even more centralized and isolated. Putin has consolidated decision-making to a level that we haven’t seen since the Soviet era.
Obama stated that such a dynamic is dangerous, but also said that the United States seeks to “reestablish” some communication channels.
The comments of the former president were made as President Joe Biden’s administration set aside additional funding to Ukraine’s military efforts against Russia this week with a $725m package in security assistance SetTo travel to the country.
Russia has been increasingly isolated since Putin’s February invasion, and is now under a host of Western sanctions.
