Strangely, on Russia & Ukraine, Washington is divided between Putin appeasers (worst of all Tucker Carlson) & realistic knowledgeable Russia specialists, such as @AmbDanFried @JohnEdHerbst @ARVershbow @SpecRepUkraine @general_ben & the NSC seem to turn to the appeasers.
So far, the White House has failed to formulate its own agenda on Russia. @McFaul has presented the best proposals I have seen so far. Also @Nigelgd1, @KeirGiles & @john_sipher have argued well. What should the US agenda be?
1. No more negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine at the table = no more Putin-Biden summits to reward Putin for aggression!
The US should demand that the OSCE is being restored as the main frum for Russian-Western negotiations.
The US should demand that the OSCE is being restored as the main frum for Russian-Western negotiations.
2. The US must set its own agenda demanding from Russia:
In line with the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, “The participating States regard as inviolable all one another's frontiers."
Russia must respect the borders of Ukraine, Georgia & Moldova & restore their full sovereignty!
In line with the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, “The participating States regard as inviolable all one another's frontiers."
Russia must respect the borders of Ukraine, Georgia & Moldova & restore their full sovereignty!
3. In November 1990, the OSCE adopted the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. The many signatures committed “to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of government of our nations” as well as human rights and the rule of law.
Demand Russian compliance!
Demand Russian compliance!
4. The 3rd basket in the Helsinki Final Act was on human rights. But now Memorial counts at least 410 political prisoners in Russia. Consequently, Memorial has been labeled a “foreign agent,” which means “enemy of the people.” Putin is Russia's real enemy of the people.
5. The US should protests against Putin's gross violations of human rights at home and abroad. Alexei Navalny, Russia’s greatest present hero and political prisoner, has delivered a list of 35 top Russian collaborators who should be sanctioned. Do so, systematically!
6. The ultimate question to the United States and its allies is: Why talk to a party who has developed lies into his modus vivendi and who violates just about all international agreements that it has concluded? No word stated by Putin is worth the paper it is written upon.
7. The time has come to consider declaring Putin's Russia a rogue state or terrorist state, just like Iran and North Korea. In what way is Russia better than Iran? That would exclude any diplomatic niceties, summits, etc. This should be the ultimate threat.
8. Interestingly, both the new German Green Foreign Minister @ABaerbock & social democratic Defense Minister #ChristineLambrecht sound more resolute & realistic on Putin's regime than @JakeSullivan46. They sound more likely to block the Putin than the US...
9. With or without allies, the US needs to get serious with sanctions on Russia again - severe financial sanctions & personal sanctions on Putin oligarchs (first of all Abramovich & Usmanov!). Sanctions should be stepped up every half year until Russia departs from Donbas.
10. Finally, the US & NATO need to get serious about military support for Ukraine. Why say that nobody will fight for Ukraine? Really? Why not leave it open at least? No concessions to Putin in return for his blackmail. The US could make do with some experienced diplomats in NSC.
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