I wonder why the West should ignore the two Russian initiatives in December and pretend we had never received them. Just like 90% of my emails to the authorities that are totally ignored!!
I feel obliged to give credit to Russia when, pre-Putin, they initiated perestroika and glasnost and took the wind out of Reagan's sails in Iceland in a surprise act of generosity. They appear to have a better track record than the US over wars in far-flung corners of the planet. Never overthrowing capitalist states, as the West has tried in fighting to overthrow many Communist countries (even elected governments if they were left-wing) - all in the name of freedom and democracy since 1945.
Last decade, Russia came to the aid of President Assad of Syria while the West was supporting the rebels in trying to overthrow a well-established, legitimate and legal government, recognised by the UN!
The December 'request' to the West not to come any further east by inviting Ukraine to become a member of NATO, seems perfectly understandable and reasonable to me in the light of their proud history of empire, like ours. Our side boasts that we won the two World Wars, vanquished the Commies in the Cold War with the break up of the USSR, their loss of buffer states to the West and the dissolving of the Warsaw Pact in 1991. Russia probably sees the West being on a roll with their former satellite states embracing the West and so many becoming part of the EU and even NATO. Yet, there is no empathy, let alone understanding from our side. Just a determination to spread the untold blessings of democracy ever further eastwards. And the USA and the West must remain the policeman of the world upholding our culture and democracy and extending it at every opportunity. The USA must always be TOP DOG in the world! This attitude hardly promotes international understanding and goodwill.
Christmas is, supposedly, a time of peace and goodwill to all nations. Perfect timing for the Russians but, we ignored them. We could have stated our position that Ukraine should be a buffer state between Russia and the West, outside our sphere of influence and, we would not fund, give armaments or support any anti-Russian feeling in Ukraine. Such a move would have lessened tensions and made it less likely that they would invade Ukraine. If they did, it would still allow the present measures that are being discussed to be implemented.
We must include Russia as much as possible in G7 deliberations as being a much more positive and constructive path to take rather than condemning them for their taking back of Crimea. Crimea was given to Ukraine in 1954 by Khrushchev.
Empathy and understanding - "leaders using empathy as a vital tool in their diplomatic arsenal." Breaking History, Radio 4, on 5 January 2022, available for over a year, here:
In 1972, Richard Nixon and Premier Chou En-lai agreed -
"the Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, also known as the Shanghai Communique. The communique was highly unconventional; it essentially sees both sides as agreeing to disagree. However, within its text the two sides agreed that both countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. It was an agreement that had far-reaching consequences for world history - one that "built a bridge across 16,000 miles" and healed years of division and hostility."
"President Nixon met with Chairman Mao Tsetung of the Communist Party of China on February 21. The two leaders had a serious and frank exchange of views on Sino-US relations and world affairs." https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/121325
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