According to a former Russian foreign minister, speaking with @emilyctamkin, the world’s response to Vladimir Putin has been “too little, too late.”
The West’s response must be as full on as it can from now on, he argues.
newstatesman.com/world/europe/u…
Andrei Kozyrev was foreign minister from 1990 to 1996, mostly under Vladimir Putin’s predecessor as president, Boris Yeltsin.
At the time, it seemed to some as though Russia might become a fully-fledged democracy, and to others that it would be swallowed by crime and chaos.
According to a former Russian foreign minister, speaking with @emilyctamkin, the world’s response to Ukraine’s war has been “too little, too late.”
The past two weeks have shown a “much better” response.
But he knows there are still some who want to take an incremental approach. You see how Russia responds, you increase or decrease accordingly.
Kozyrev thinks Nato should enact a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
The objection to a no-fly zone is that Nato would have to shoot down Russian planes.
Such an act, Kozyrev believes would not result in a nuclear war.
He believes that if Moscow sees that the West is hesitant to use all the tools at its disposal, then it will go further.
In Kozyrev’s reading, this is a strong enough basis in law to allow military action on Ukraine’s behalf.
But some do not think it is worth finding out whether Russia is serious about using nuclear weapons in the event of a Nato no-fly zone.
Kozyrev is sure they will not resort to nuclear weapons.
The costs of Russia winning the war in Ukraine could be far greater if the West does not act.
If Russia wins, and if it is not stopped: “after that, to take, say, Estonia? I mean, it’s just a few hours’ operation.”
If Russia does pull back? He does not believe that sanctions should be lifted right away.
The Russian people should first understand what has happened in Ukraine.
That is difficult now, because information is so heavily policed in Russia.
In the days since Russia invaded Ukraine, independent media has been forced offline and off the air.
The response should be as full on as it can. “The next step,” he warned, “will cost even more.”
Read more of @emilyctamkin’s interview with Russia’s former foreign minister.
newstatesman.com/world/europe/u…
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.