--- title: Should You Fear Russia? | TIME description: Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. TIME takes a look at the reasons why Russia fears are and aren't justified. canonical: https://time.com/video/xZky4liD/ og:title: Should You Fear Russia? og:description: Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. TIME takes a look at the reasons why Russia fears are and aren't justified. og:url: https://time.com/video/xZky4liD/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/xZky4liD/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Should You Fear Russia? twitter:description: Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. TIME takes a look at the reasons why Russia fears are and aren't justified. twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/xZky4liD/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Should You Fear Russia? > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Should You Fear Russia? [Watch (HLS stream): Should You Fear Russia?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/xZky4liD.m3u8) (3:01)  _Published 2017-09-14. Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. TIME takes a look at the reasons why Russia fears are and aren't justified._ --- Jul 27, 2023 10:32 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Russia’s ‘Space-Based Weapon’ Raises Fresh Fears About an Old Threat](/video/TcXPGX33/) ### Russia’s ‘Space-Based Weapon’ Raises Fresh Fears About an Old Threat [Russia Says It Successfully Tested a Hypersonic Missile. But U.S. Officials Aren’t Worried](/video/rPStgVuZ/) ### Russia Says It Successfully Tested a Hypersonic Missile. But U.S. Officials Aren’t Worried [Kids Aren't Alright](/video/VkFxE2KI/) ### Kids Aren't Alright --- ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. Russia is raising grave concern. They're trying to break the backs of democracies. Something really weird had happened that had to do with Russia. Seventy percent of them view Russia unfavorably A percentage that's risen steadily over the past few years. The country's relationship with the West has deteriorated since the 2014 invasion of Crimea. And Russian officials have even referred to what's happening as a new Cold War. [ FOREIGN ] But do Americans have reason to fear Russia today? Vladimir Putin's Russia has become increasingly aggressive toward the West. In 2014, Russia illegally invaded and annexed Crimea in Ukraine. The US and EU retaliated with hefty sanctions. Major sanctions we're announcing today will continue to ratchet up. The pressure on Russia, including the cronies and companies that are supporting Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine. [ MUSIC ] This marked a turning point in how the world treated Russia, leaving the country diplomatically isolated and bitter. Russia has reacted by resisting America and the West in various ways. From vetoing action at the UN Security Council, to militarily backing Syria's Assad regime, a move that risked a proxy war with the US and its allies. Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders, who are trying desperately to keep people alive. In 2016, Russian hackers targeted the Democratic National Committee, and Hillary Clinton's Campaign before the presidential Election. They introduced chaos and division and discord and sowed doubt about about the nature of this amazing country of ours, and our democratic process. That left Europeans fearing meddling withing their own democracies. Amid these tensions, Putin has repeatedly reminded the West that Russia has the world's largest nuclear arsenal. Largest nuclear arsenal, which makes any confrontation with Moscow more threatening. Russia would like to change the status quo, but it's limited in its ability to do so. Sanctions and low oil prices have put Put the breaks on Russia's economy, and a youthful opposition movement is growing within the country. [ FOREIGN ] From a military perspective Russia is outmatched. Its defense budget is a ninth the size of the U. S. 's and it has no alliance system comparable to NATO. Although Moscow's military is trying to catch up, it lacks the money and technology to do so. [ MUSIC ] Arsenal of nuclear weapons has become a major source of fear and controversy. Not too long ago, Americans feared a conflict with Russia would end in nuclear holocaust. Explicit threat to the peace and security of all the Americas. But today's Russia would prefer to have influence over America rather than wipe it from the map. [ MUSIC ] ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Should You Fear Russia?","description":"Russia has returned as a perceived threat for many Americans. TIME takes a look at the reasons why Russia fears are and aren't \njustified. 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