Minsk 2

   

                                          

Hope springs eternal. In Ukrainian circles that cliché is no longer relevant when referring to Ukraine-Russia relations. Many in the West are still naive or, perhaps,  idealistic enough to lend credence to promises made by Russian leaders or their henchman. However, the list of the believers is diminishing.

To Stop Putin You Must Stop Him

                                     

The political spectrum between Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders is as wide as their age difference. However, that difference is apparent mostly in social programs. Foreign policy issues are often equalizers because principles in politics, in particular when your own home appears safe,  is anathema. The appearance of one's own safety is often the result of shortsightedness. Long term strategic interests are subjects left for academic discourse. In politics, principles are compromised for the sake of political expediency, electability and the like.

NATO Security

Questioning the significance of security through NATO membership has become a tactic of Russia appeasers. The purported logic for this argumentation is twofold:  nothing has disturbed Vladimir Putin more than NATO expansion; and nothing would exacerbate the current Ukraine-Russia crisis more than NATO membership for Ukraine.  In any event, the appeasers suggest,  NATO membership is hardly an absolute security guaranty since each NATO member country acts at its own discretion.  Thus Ukraine should relinquish its NATO membership aspirations. So the argument goes.