Re: [Salon] NATO Enlargement and Ukraine

The problem with this argument is that US, NATO, and European leaders spent the last 14 years telling Georgia and Ukraine how much they were loved and how everyone expected they would end up in NATO. Last October the Pentagon announced that Lloyd Austin would “stress in both Georgia and Ukraine that there is an open door to NATO and encourage the nations to make the changes necessary for them to qualify for membership in the defensive alliance.” https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2812786/defense-secretary-travels-to-europe-to-reassure-frontline-states/

That doesn't sound like membership is impossible. Putin has to decide whether everyone is lying to him or to the Ukrainians ... when he knows that US and European leaders already lied, or at least vigorously misled, Russian officials on the broader issue of NATO expansion.

Doug Bandow

-----Original Message-----
From: Atwood, Brian via Salon <salon@listserve.com>
To: Chas Freeman via Salon <salon@listserve.com>
Sent: Sat, Mar 5, 2022 11:09 am
Subject: [Salon] NATO Enlargement and Ukraine

has,

A Hungarian friend has written the attached piece arguing that NATO enlargement wasn't the real reason Putin decided to invade Ukraine. He points out that any country that isn't in full control of its internationally recognized borders could not expect to be admitted to NATO. This would include Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia, among others. He argues that Putin not only knew this, but that he created that reality in Georgia and Ukraine.

Matyas Eorsi was a member of the Hungarian parliament and participated in a number of NDI projects in Central and Eastern Europe. He presents a slightly new twist on Ukraine that will be of interest to Salon readers.

Best, Brian

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