Wasted opportunity. In 2002 Putin still hoped for partnership with west & Nato.
If you remember after 9/11 he stood whole russian army down back to barracks in a gesture Condition Rice herself said was “extraordinary”
But these offers were constantly rebuffed & Russia line began to harden by 2004
Same on biz: Russia was looking for help to modernise its industry. Did deals to join EADS (airbus 2006) & buy Opel (cars 2009) but both were blocked as EU didn’t want russian competition.
Kremlin got increasingly frustrated until it finally gave up with Lavrov “new rules of game speech in 2021” that for me Marked the start of the inevitable slide into war
If you remember after 9/11 he stood whole russian army down back to barracks in a gesture Condition Rice herself said was “extraordinary”
But these offers were constantly rebuffed & Russia line began to harden by 2004
Same on biz: Russia was looking for help to modernise its industry. Did deals to join EADS (airbus 2006) & buy Opel (cars 2009) but both were blocked as EU didn’t want russian competition.
Kremlin got increasingly frustrated until it finally gave up with Lavrov “new rules of game speech in 2021” that for me Marked the start of the inevitable slide into war
I looked this up:
Vladimir Putin did make comments in 2002 suggesting that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership would not necessarily harm Russia’s relations with Kyiv. However, this was before NATO enlargement became a major geopolitical flashpoint.
1️⃣ Putin’s Statement on Ukraine and NATO (2002)
•During a press conference with NATO Secretary General George Robertson in November 2002, Putin was asked about the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
•He responded:
“Ukraine is a sovereign state and has the right to choose its own means to ensure its security. We do not see this as a tragedy.”
•At the time, Russia’s relationship with NATO was relatively cooperative, particularly after 9/11, when Moscow and Washington aligned on counterterrorism.
2️⃣ Timing in Relation to the ABM Treaty Withdrawal
•The US formally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty on 13 June 2002, citing the need to develop missile defence systems.
•Putin’s statement on Ukraine and NATO came after this withdrawal, specifically during or just before the Prague NATO Summit (21–22 November 2002), where NATO invited seven countries from Eastern Europe to join the alliance.
3️⃣ Context
•In early 2000s, Putin still entertained a cooperative relationship with NATO and even hinted at the possibility of Russia joining NATO itself under certain conditions.
•Russia’s attitude hardened later, particularly after the 2004 NATO enlargement (Baltic states) and the 2008 Bucharest Summit, where NATO promised eventual membership to Ukraine and Georgia.
Vladimir Putin did make comments in 2002 suggesting that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership would not necessarily harm Russia’s relations with Kyiv. However, this was before NATO enlargement became a major geopolitical flashpoint.
1️⃣ Putin’s Statement on Ukraine and NATO (2002)
•During a press conference with NATO Secretary General George Robertson in November 2002, Putin was asked about the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
•He responded:
“Ukraine is a sovereign state and has the right to choose its own means to ensure its security. We do not see this as a tragedy.”
•At the time, Russia’s relationship with NATO was relatively cooperative, particularly after 9/11, when Moscow and Washington aligned on counterterrorism.
2️⃣ Timing in Relation to the ABM Treaty Withdrawal
•The US formally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty on 13 June 2002, citing the need to develop missile defence systems.
•Putin’s statement on Ukraine and NATO came after this withdrawal, specifically during or just before the Prague NATO Summit (21–22 November 2002), where NATO invited seven countries from Eastern Europe to join the alliance.
3️⃣ Context
•In early 2000s, Putin still entertained a cooperative relationship with NATO and even hinted at the possibility of Russia joining NATO itself under certain conditions.
•Russia’s attitude hardened later, particularly after the 2004 NATO enlargement (Baltic states) and the 2008 Bucharest Summit, where NATO promised eventual membership to Ukraine and Georgia.
Transcript from a panel PBS with Rice & Putin on 9/11 cooperation
“NARRATOR: As Tajikistan and Uzbekistan vacillated, President Putin decided Russia should help America secure Central Asia's cooperation. Yet first Putin had to win the support of skeptics inside the Kremlin.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] The vast majority - even those that had doubts - never questioned the necessity of cooperation. Any doubts were about the nuances of how we could do it.
NARRATOR: On Saturday, September 22nd, Putin called President Bush at Camp David.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] It was my idea to call him. I told President Bush that after decisions made by the Russian leadership, I had consulted my Central Asian colleagues. I assured him that they would support the USA and the world community in the fight against terrorism.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, National Security Adviser:President Putin was making very clear that the United-that the Russians would have no problem with an American presence in Central Asia in order to fight the war on terrorism. And President Bush was making it clear that the United States didn't wish to supplant Russian influence in that region. We knew it was the former Soviet Union and that Russia had long-standing interests in the region, and that we had no intention of permanent military basing in that area.
NARRATOR: Putin told Bush what he wanted in return: closer ties to America.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] We needed to develop our relations with the West, and in particular, with the United States. The events of September 11th have given us the momentum to rethink the world's relationship.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Back at the beginning, almost at the beginning of this, the president had said through his tears that he could see opportunities for new relationships. And here we had a vivid example of a new relationship that was budding with Russia.
pbs.org/wgbh/pages/fro…
“NARRATOR: As Tajikistan and Uzbekistan vacillated, President Putin decided Russia should help America secure Central Asia's cooperation. Yet first Putin had to win the support of skeptics inside the Kremlin.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] The vast majority - even those that had doubts - never questioned the necessity of cooperation. Any doubts were about the nuances of how we could do it.
NARRATOR: On Saturday, September 22nd, Putin called President Bush at Camp David.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] It was my idea to call him. I told President Bush that after decisions made by the Russian leadership, I had consulted my Central Asian colleagues. I assured him that they would support the USA and the world community in the fight against terrorism.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, National Security Adviser:President Putin was making very clear that the United-that the Russians would have no problem with an American presence in Central Asia in order to fight the war on terrorism. And President Bush was making it clear that the United States didn't wish to supplant Russian influence in that region. We knew it was the former Soviet Union and that Russia had long-standing interests in the region, and that we had no intention of permanent military basing in that area.
NARRATOR: Putin told Bush what he wanted in return: closer ties to America.
Pres. VLADIMIR PUTIN: [through translator] We needed to develop our relations with the West, and in particular, with the United States. The events of September 11th have given us the momentum to rethink the world's relationship.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Back at the beginning, almost at the beginning of this, the president had said through his tears that he could see opportunities for new relationships. And here we had a vivid example of a new relationship that was budding with Russia.
pbs.org/wgbh/pages/fro…
Another gesture in 2001. An article article I wrote about Putin ordering the closure of a key post in Cuba that could eavesdrop on all of the US eastern seaboard.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews…
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