Page 109 - Off Ramp News Today

Im quite sure that putin has [inaudible] when that happens, when that period ends. but i am not sure there is a clear an easy exit for russia. perhaps this time there is. but perhaps in this game of brinkmanship, i think, only ends one way. with escalation. >> this is precisely my worry, why find the dynamics are somewhat recognizable to hawks in the u.s., the domestic local context, who i think are almost always wrong. but you will sometimes see that make the argument that for credibilitys sake...

The extensive interview you just did with wendy sherman, is the urgency you hear in her voice. we have consistently tried to assess how the administration views putins actions. it was right there laid bear in that interview. they are taking all of the actions by president putin very seriously and at face value. i thought was also notable that she said i hope the window is not closing when it comes to a diplomatic off ramp. we know that type of a comment comes in the wake of president macron meet...

That a little bit too aggressively. i would also point out that in regards to your question about the pentagon statement, this war in the ukraine has been ongoing since 2014. 15,000 ukrainians have died in this war. so the invasion has already begun. the question is will they ramp it up? will it be gray zone incursion? or will it be an aggressive conventional move? that we dont know and i would just point those things out. >> do you think from your talks with the russians, do you think there are...

There is a clear and easy exit for russia. perhaps this time there is. but perhaps in this game of brinkmanship, i think, it only ends one way, namely with escalation. >> this is precisely my worry, why i find the dynamics are somewhat recognizable to hawks in the u.s. -- the domestic local context -- who i think are almost always wrong. but you will sometimes see them make the argument that for credibilitys sake we have to do that. we threatened missiles and now we have to fire missiles, as if ...

Middle east, if you were to be a part of advising this white house or being part of this diplomatic conversation with putin, what would you advise would be his off ramp because he is all about saving face and if hes the one to extricate himself from this conflict, how do you do that and make it appeasing to someone who is looking at himself, you know, on the world stage as one who never backs down? >> fred, i think you answered your own question. the reality is, the russians have climbed -- puti...

But he still says he wants to talk to macron of france. he has a call scheduled with biden. so he is playing a game where he is still trying to press for some guarantees, security concessions and such. and so the question is is there some space there for a diplomatic off-ramp? i dont think its too late. i think putins first objective is to get the kwon sessions without war. and if there is no other way he created a circumstance where he can manage a very quick effective military victory. but my ...

Upon politics? it feels like it is based upon making sure that there is no transmission in school. it feels like the four or five different factors which is what new jersey used, are vaccination rates. thats what massachusetts uses. low community spread. >> bill: before that she said i think we have to be talking about the off ramp for masks. the point there. she has given a little bit. walls are breaking down. >> dana: it is interesting. the school thing is critical. but i also scott walker sai...

Which putin backs down in. >> i do. i think we and president biden is working on exactly the right approach to make sure president putin understands the high cost if he does decide to invade, to work with our partners and nato and e.u. and across the world to make sure those sanctions are done in concert in a unilateral way while working the provide a strong off-ramp to de-escalate the situation, to try to work with russia to find a nonvile way to address this conflict and to get to a resolution...

What we did is three months ago in november since we support off ramps for masking, we know that masks impede learning. we know masks were there for the safety of our kids, our communities and ourselves. so what i did was in november pre-omicron, i asked the cdc, dr. walensky and dr. coardona, could you give us and figure out a science-based metric or an off ramp for masking. >> and did you get that? >> no, never. and the dilemma is now that today, for example -- i have two op-eds on my desk. on...

Also russian president vladimir putin. and the last thing ill say about that is u.s. officials after the phone call said nothing had fundamentally changed in the dynamic. despite president bidens warnings to putin and talk of a potential diplomatic off-ramp, the russian president could still choose to invade. >> also interesting that zelensky invited president biden to come to ukraine. now not likely that will happen. jeremy diamond, thank you so much. joining us now, cnn military analyst and ...