Russia’s 71-year-old Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that talks with the U.S. over Ukraine would begin sometime in January 2022, followed closely with talks with NATO. Growing Western concerns over the prospects of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine have gotten the attention of the U.S. and European Union [EU] both committed to resolving disputes peacefully, but, for whatever reason, have let events get out of hand. President Joe Biden, 79, continues to warn 69-year-old President Vladimir Putin about the prospects of severe economic sanctions, if Russia seizes any more Ukrainian territory. Since Putin seized the Crimean Peninsula March 1, 2014, Western countries have been a loggerheads with Russia, trading accusations about what’s caused the last seven years of armed conflict, leaving 14,000 Ukrainians dead, with pro-Russian forces threatening to take over Eastern Ukraine.
Western officials and press don’t talk about the Feb. 22, 2014 CIA-backed, pro-Westren coup that toppled the duly elected, Kremlin-backed Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovich. Pro-Western forces led by former heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko chased Yanukovych out of Kiev, creating a security risk for Russia’s Sevastopol, Crimea naval base. To safeguard Russia’s interests after the coup, Putin annexed Crimea, something that would not have happened had a CIA-backed coup not taken place. Western officials and the press say nothing about what happened in 2014, acting like Putin acted unilaterally to seize the Crimean Peninsula. Had the Feb. 22, 2014 CIA-backed coup not taken place, Crimea would still be in Ukraine’s hands. Western officials and the press say nothing of what happened March 1, 2014, blaming Putin for naked aggression in Ukraine.
Lavrov’s announcement of U.S. and NATO talks comes at a time when Putin issued an ultimatum, asking for strict legal guarantees that Ukraine will not be given NATO membership. Since taking office May 20, 2019, 43-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has practically begged NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for membership, antagonizing Putin. Putin wants to part of NATO in Ukraine, considered an encroachment on the Russian border. “We don’t want a war,” Lavrov said Wednesday. “We don’t want to take the path of confrontation. But we will firmly ensure our security using the means we consider necessary,” Lavrov said, repeating verbatim the exact words of Putin. Lavrov, an old time Russian diplomat familiar with Washinton’s ways, said he appreciated Washington’s “business-like approach” to agree on parameters for future talks.
Biden has finally gotten the message that confrontation with Putin isn’t in anyone’s best interests. Agreeing to somewhat urgent talks about Ukraine, there’s a real chance that a more serious, potentially irreversible, conflict can be avoided. Lavrov said the Moscow would consider Washington’s demands but said the talks would not drag out indefinitely. “I hope that they will take use seriously give the move we have tan to ensure our defensive capability,” referring to the over 100,000 troops inside Russia near the Ukrainian border. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov underscored the importance of open dialogue but said talks should be “aimed at reaching concrete results and not become drawn out.” Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov expressed concerns a bout the Russian troop build up, worried that a conflagration could get out of hand.
Danilov continues to seek U.S. and NATO help to stave off another Russian invasion, something pushed by Western officials and the press. “If the situation exacerbates, it can happen momentarily,” Danilov said, referring to war breaking out. “It will require preparation, and we are watching it,” talking about Ukraine’s preparation for the worse-case scenario. But Danilov knows that Ukraine’s military is no match for the Russian Federation, seeking Western help to fend off another Russian land grab. Danilov’s assessment underscores the importance of the U.S. and Russia working out an urgent peace deal to avert any mishaps. U.S. officials must enter discussions with Russian knowing that military confrontation must be avoided at all costs. Ukraine continues to think that the U.S. and NATO have such a strong national security interest in Ukraine they’d come to Kiev’s defense.
Discussing the urgency of U.S.-Russian talks, Lavrov sees the trappings of a way out of the current crisis. NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenbergs said that NATO cannot compromise its principles when it comes to who can join and who cannot. When it comes to the U.S. or NATO defending Ukraine, there’s simply no vested interest the U.S. has in coming to blows with the Kremlin. Ukraine has an ax to grind against the Russia Federatio but it’s not the U.S. battle to return Crimean to Ukraine. Klitschko coup had consequences Feb. 22, 2020, including losing Crimea. Putin’s no playing around when he says Russia will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if NATO continues to encroach on Russia’s border. “They must understand that we have nowhere to retreat,” Putin said, clearly expecting the U.S. and NATO to put Ukraine on notice that it’s not gaining NATO membership.
