NATO’S SHADOW

If not for the obsession of casting Putin/russia as “the enemy,” he would not be difficult to figure out. (“How extensive are Putin’s war aims,” April 29, by Henry Srebrnik).

Professor Srebrnik is right on the money applying irredentism to the situation in Ukraine but doesn’t go far enough, or back far enough, to explain what is happening there. We should all delve into, and acknowledge, the history behind any event before mouthing off — whether you are an everyday reader or some experienced pundit.

I disagree with the way Prof. Srebrnik dates the root cause of the present situation to 2014. The origin is in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the independence of Ukraine in ’91 when NATO, aka the U.S. or its military arm in Europe, assured Russia there would be no attempt to “NATOIZE” the former Soviet republics.

No sooner pledged than pledge undone. Then U.S. president Bill Clinton called for former Warsaw Pact countries and post-soviet republics to join NATO, and made NATO enlargement a crucial part of his foreign policy. Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined.

With an independent Ukraine, the total territorial encroachment of Russia by the U.S./NATO would be consolidated.

In 2014, with the rebellion incited and fomented by U.S. State Department representative Victoria Nuland and the collaboration of the CIA, the flame that lit the tinderbox — the climax of the protests in Maidan Square, Kyiv, that brought down the thenlegitimate, though pro-russia, elected government of Ukraine — was set to explode.

The history of Ukraine as part of Russia dates a lot further back, to at least the Treaty of Pereyslav in 1654 with a pledge of allegiance by Cossacks to the tsar of Russia.

That Putin’s initial intentions were to ward off the placement of unfriendly forces at its immediate border with U.S.-NATO-UKRAINE guarantees are clear and understandable. The alternative left was absolute control by force.

Prof. Srebrnik writes: “If there is no possible road to peace, it may turn into a wider Nato-russian war.”

It already is, if, by proxy, NATO and the U.S. are one and the same thing.

Where are the EU countries, which are also members of NATO — same difference, except economic in essence and without U.S. membership? Standing on the sidelines, holding their breath, hoping for the best, with the U.S. unwilling to give, blocking all possible roads to peace.

The slaughter and devastation of Ukraine continues unabated.

Robert Coane, Wolfville