Is Russia’s Nuclear About-Face More or Less Credible Than Its Earlier Threats?
Defense OneMAR 10 2023
According to a Washington Post report, US Pres. Joe Biden is privately urging Ukraine to show an openness to negotiate with Russia and forgo its refusal to conduct peace talks unless Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin is removed from power.
Sources familiar with the matter have shared concerns that Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ban on talks with Putin has generated growing stress in parts of Europe, Africa, and Latin America, where the effects of the war have been felt most intensely. An anonymous US official interviewed in the report said, "Ukraine fatigue is a real thing for some of our partners."
Meanwhile, amid reported Russian attacks on key Ukrainian energy infrastructure, 17 EU countries have sent 500 power generators to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal, it has already received 700 generators from foreign partners and is expecting a further 900.
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.