To Develop Pre-emptive Diplomacy for Ukrainian Crisis, We Must Address Russia´s Vital National Interests

“Arm Ukraine and Impose Energy Sanctions,” Our article, so entitled, was published in the oldest and most respected English language paper in the Ukraine, the Kyiv Post, on the day of Vice President Joe Biden´s arrival. It is also on our website  jvlv.net.

But we also address the issue of U.S foreign policy mistakes towards Putin´s Russia, as well as including carrots for him. As former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and former Ambassador Jack Matlock have argued, our policies towards Russia have often overlooked her vital national interests and feelings of humiliation since the geopolitical collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991. Gates called attempts to admit the Ukraine and Georgia into NATO, “overreaching.” Romania and Bulgaria was a “provocation.” However, he never criticized those who did not understand Russia´s fear of encirclement, e.g. Zbig Brzezinski and Condi Rice, who are his personal friends.. We must be critical of our distinguished colleagues while looking at mistakes such as the rapid NATO enlargement that has contributed to escalation of the present crisis.

While Henry Kissinger maintained a balanced and sober approach and did not advocate inclusion of Georgia and the Ukraine into NATO, Brzezinski, a man we normally admire, did advocate such a move. Lately he has changed his mind and developed a new concept, Finland-ization of the Ukraine. Too late! But this brilliant and honest old statesman should admit he earlier made a mistake, one that his followers should avoid, Is he strong enough to do so? Is the Finland-ization of the Ukraine really a viable concept? Can we come with a new conceptualization to avoid escalation of the Ukrainian conflict?