comment and saw the immediate effort to retract it from the white house staff and the only impression that gave people in europe is that well, the president is not really in charge. his staff is guiding and shaping and correcting him, which is not the impression you want the leader of your country to have while speaking abroad. everyone i spoke with agreed that of course we can see what putin is doing. destroying ukraine, destroying his own country. of course he should not be in power. >> dana: i want to ask you about the current situation on the ground. we just saw these images that bill walked us through and you've seen them as well and they're horrific. talks that russia is saying they'll pull back. do you believe that? do you think it is because ukraine has taken what is a terrible hand they were dealt and now they are back up to an even hand with russians. time to put more pressure now on putin? >> first rule of thumb is don't listen to what the russians say. ask why they are saying it. what they're saying is they're pulling back.