NATO’s expansionist policy to address Russia’s security concerns has suffered a major setback. Now the US Secretary of State claims that Moscow is lying about the withdrawal of forces. Russia has mobilized its troops in response, set clear red lines that would trigger an intervention, and made it clear that further Western sanctions would only strengthen Russia’s economic disengagement from Europe.
Russian President Putin, with his tactics, won three victories over the West at this stage of the negotiations on the Ukrainian crisis. More specifically,
1. A debate has begun on a European security architecture in which Russia plays a central role.
2. Western nations are finally discussing pan-European security, restrictions or non-development of offensive weapons systems, and the most taboo subject of the last 30 years – recognizing that Russia has legitimate security interests.
3. Think tanks are debating whether NATO expansion has reached its limits and the possibility of a neutral regime for Ukraine, similar to the Finnish or Austrian model.
4. Russian-American talks on global strategic weapons have begun.
5. Ukraine’s European security architecture and destabilization have ensured that the country does not join NATO.
6. The Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the principle that Russia is a great power.
7. Russia has presented a dynamic way of regaining control of the situation in Kazakhstan and growing Russian influence in Africa.
8. Russia by maintaining tensions, it has achieved all its goals, starting with the global security debate.
Russia’s achievements in the current controversy are limited but significant. No mutually acceptable settlement has been reached in Europe since the Cold War, but the opening of discussions on pan-European security means that we can finally hope for a final agreement.
