... A semi-symbolic gesture of goodwill would not “buy” Russia’s acquiescence. If we look at the proposals that Russia is making – on geopolitical order, or even on the DCFTA with Ukraine - we quickly realise that to really meet Russia’s expectations, we would need to accept a profound overhaul of the principles of most post-Cold War institutions; not just NATO and the OSCE would need to change their principles, but so would the WTO, possibly the Bretton Woods system, and so forth.
Focus on differences and talk
In the absence of a workable policy with an acceptable price tag, what should Western dialogue with Russia ...
... unfortunately some of these concerns materialized.
The eruption of the Ukraine crisis shone a spotlight on the inefficiency of the very international institutions charged with maintaining security and communication channels in the European space, including the Russia-NATO Council set up in 2002 to deliver permanent contact and crisis prevention, and the OSCE, which also seems the only hope for diplomacy.
Avoiding War in Europe: How to Reduce the Risk
of a Military Encounter Between Russia and
NATO
The very concept of building a Greater Europe is increasingly coming under fire. In fact, it is hard to ...
... “a new bipolarity” while it is still possible. That, in turn, means that we should try to preserve the few bridges that still link us and that, in our shared pugnacity, we have not yet burned.
10. I am referring to the mechanisms of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the sub-regional organisations (from the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation to the Arctic Council) and even the NATO-Russia Council. No excessive hopes can be pinned on any of these structures and organisations: they have not and will not prevent a continental rift between the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasia. But they could prevent this rift from assuming a tough, confrontational ...
... are NATO members.
Whether the OSCE will be the North Atlantic’s alternative, rival or appendix, much depends on the evolution of NATO and its policy in the future: If it returns to a Cold War strategy, its major goal will be the containment of Russia. In this case, the OSCE and NATO are hardly likely to cooperate, because the OSCE includes Russia and other countries that don’t support such a policy.
If Russia and NATO resume dialogue, I can admit that under certain circumstances, NATO might be seen even as the tool of ...
