Has NATO provoked the current Russia-Ukraine war? Most Russians would say yes. NATO lovers say the alliance is built for defence, there is no intention to attack Russia. Why is Russia complaining? Gorbachev naively assumed that the USA would wind up NATO after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. After all, the Warsaw Pact, the communist equivalent military block, disappeared. If you don’t have an enemy, why do you need a military alliance and defence systems? Russia was wrong. America kept encroaching on what Russians thought to be their space. Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia became NATO members. US military bases appeared in those nations to encircle Russia.
In 2007, Putin made a passionate speech at Munich pointing out the dangers of NATO policy. As a reward, in 2008, George Bush said NATO doors are open for Ukraine and Georgia. Germany and France had objected to admitting those two nations. Bush spontaneously made the unscripted remarks. Following them, Putin launched a brief war against Georgia, and captured 20% of Georgia which till today is occupied by Russia. If this is not a provocation, what is?
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Whataboutism is when you justify one wrong thing by pointing out to another. That is not the case here. Putin/Russia’s actions are barbaric, outdated, break international law and so on. But they could still be the consequence of America’s belligerent actions.
Double standards are evident. The USA was about to start a nuclear war when Khrushchev planned to place missiles in Cuba. How is that different from Russia not wanting enemy missiles in Ukraine? America illegally has nuclear bases in five countries in Europe. Why shouldn’t Russia demand a ban on nuclear weapons overseas? The UK and France are acknowledged nuclear powers in Europe. That should be enough of a deterrent for someone wanting to attack a NATO nation.
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Americans and NATO dignitaries talk about Russia not having a veto over Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine is a sovereign country. It should be free to join any military alliance. Really?
The self-proclaimed nuclear club has given itself strong veto powers. Israel has managed to keep on expanding settlements in Palestine and keep Palestinians stateless because of America’s veto. Apartheid in South Africa continued for forty years because of the UK veto. Assad has survived thanks partly to the Russian veto. The not-so-great powers of the world have accepted this inequality. Not every sovereign nation has the freedom to do what it likes. Ask the Palestinians. They are not even allowed to be a sovereign nation.
Russia having a veto, therefore, where Ukraine or Georgia is concerned is perfectly possible.
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Russia and USA/NATO don’t have to reinvent anything. Over the last three decades, they signed many documents and treaties pledging peace by way of arms reduction, mutual inspections, transparency, continuous communication, constructive attitude. We mustn’t forget that once upon a time USSR and USA each had about 60,000 nuclear weapons, now there is a cap of 6,000.
President Biden simply has to make a gesture. Of offering Russia security guarantees in writing. This can be done by including Russia in NATO, and giving them the benefit of article 5, or agreeing not to have any weapons or bases say 500 km from the Russian border.
If President Biden is reluctant to do it, Donald Trump may do it and claim the Nobel peace prize.
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Ravi
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