Fmr. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor on Foreign Policy

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: What do you make so far of the president’s team and its tone and substance when it comes to these big issues?

BILL TAYLOR, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE: Christiane, I — my sense is that Secretary Blinken and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, and the president, for that matter, have been very clear. They have shown clarity in purpose, clarity in message, clarity in what they want to try to accomplish. And on this trip to Brussels, this will be an opportunity to do that directly with U.S. allies. So, I think this is important, that clarity. It’s important to show the humility. And we have got plenty to be humble for. But it’s important to be honest and direct and, as I say, clear about the message.

AMANPOUR: So, before I get to Russia, which is your bailiwick — well, no, let me just ask you. You say humility, but it looks like President Biden is kind of deliberately setting a tone, whereby he’s going to be, I don’t even want to use the word aggressive, but, as you say, clear, but in a very robust way, about the challenges posed by President Putin and about the major competition that China presents right now.

TAYLOR: I think President Biden has demonstrated that clarity. We have to remember that President Putin has seen presidents come and go. This is his fourth transition of presidents. And we know about earlier transition that had views into Mr. Putin’s eyes to see his soul. We know about resets. We know about trying to better relations at the beginning of the last administration. This administration is going to be clearer. It’s not — it’s learned from previous experience and others’ experience that it needs to be clear, not — I wouldn’t say aggressive. I wouldn’t say hostile. I would say clear. I would say very, very direct, which I think will be a better way — a better way to proceed with the Russians.