May 9 is Victory Day in Russia, commemorating the Nazi surrender in the Great Patriotic War (known elsewhere as World War II). This year, Columbia and New York Universities marked the occasion by hosting a rollicking professorial debate on “The New U.S.-Russian Cold War: Who is to Blame?”
The event title – not to mention the proceedings themselves – encapsulated some of the most popular themes of today’s rejuvenated Western Kremlinology. The rather small-ball question of whether to label current U.S.-Russia relations a “new Cold War” has engaged a surprisingly august list of foreign policy intelligentsia, both in favor and opposed. The more portentous question of who is to blame (“Kto Vinovat?”) defines a more significant fault line among Western policymakers and analysts. Is the sorry state of affairs mainly a result of Vladimir Putin’s thuggery and intransigence? Or of America’s unique blend of missionary liberalism and obliviousness to other states’ national interests?
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WNU Editor: A neat summary on what is the current state of U.S. - Russian relations. What's my take .... no one lost Russia. But if the Ukraine crisis is solved much of the current tensions between Russia and the West would dissipate. How to solve the Ukraine crisis .... there is a need for a poltitcal agreement between the Ukraine government and the Russian minority that lives within its borders to be undertaken. Preferably establishing a Federal type of state (like Canada's) where the regions/provinces will have the authority to handle language and cultural responsibilities as well as some responsibility on economic affairs. This is what the separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine want, and Moscow has also greenlighted its support. Unfortunately .... the Poroshenko government has torpedoed this proposal, prefering the military option instead. As for Crimea. As much as the Ukraine government wants it back, it is not going to happen. The bridge between Kiev and the Russian majority in Crimea got burned down during the revolution in 2014 .... and with the exception of the Tartars and some who are still loyal to Ukraine, there is no support among the majority (I would put it around 90%) in Crimea to return to Ukraine. I should also add that any attempt to force it back will result in a war that would make the current war in eastern Ukraine small in comparison. My prediction .... one day there will be a resolution to the Uraine crisis, and in turn an improvement in Russia's relations with the West. But that will only happen when Poroshenko is ousted in the next election (that will happen next year), and when Putin leaves in 2024.
7 comments:
This is a long lasting legacy of Victoria Nuland, Hillary Clinton, NGOs and Barack Obama.
Should have bartered Ukraine's debt for Crimea.
Since when was Russia owned by the USA? Can't lose something you never had.
Russia is behaving within its norms so it isn't lost.
Easy prediction: a few of the Ukrainian government will die in accidents soon if this doesn't get resolved. .think it can't happen? Ask the Polish people what happened to their government in that plane crash a few years ago and who they think did it.
It's not like the Kremlin hasn't done these things before. .the list of Kremlin opponents ending up dead is very very long. .I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet
Lots of odd, dumb comments here. If no one lost Russia, why is Russian not the Soviet Empire it once was? Or do we mean post Soviet, in which case it Now is not lost? In any case blame Obama...always...fruit gone bad? blame Obama. tummy upset? blame Obama. How stupid can you get?
I haven't read the article and probably won't. Time likely does not permit but I am reading the threads. Normally I would, at a minimum, speed read the article usually reading it in full this time before commenting on any thread.
In this case, I will break my normal protocol. From the headline, who lost Russia, what arrogance!??! The USA never owned Russia or the Soviet Union. As such, it cannot lose it. The only ones who would assume such a thing would be idiots or those holding to the ridiculous notion of America as some type of "exceptional" country or other ridiculous nonsense.
The only post that directly blames Obama for any of this is the first anon post. Nowhere else is Obama mentioned per say. One must admit that the actions of Nuland and other with regards to Ukraine did create some rather bad optics. Furthermore the actions of the NGOs did the same and the failure of the aforementioned individuals to condemn, criticize, or provide any context did not help matters.
Fred, I would suggest getting thicker skin. Any criticism of Obama is tame compared to that of Trump. Trump supporters have generally chosen to take this in stride and, while pointing out the flaws in much of it, have maintained a sense of humor.
Now with that said there are many, many areas of legitimate disputes that we have with Russia that need a resolution. A willingness to meet with Russian officials, respecting them, and treating them as equals is more likely to net us positive results. Hysterical over the top criticisms and made up accusations are counter productive.
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