Russia still needs to be a part of the West. … Our position should be to remain open and stay engaged with Russia
A BETTER PEACE is pleased to welcome Ambassador John Tefft to the studio to discuss his perspectives on Russia and Russian-US relations. As former US Ambassador to Russia from 2014-2017, AMB Tefft served in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the most recent Presidential election. With U.S. Army War College Director of Eurasian Studies Bob Hamilton, AMB Tefft provides background and insights into Russia’s strategic interests and recent actions. Although many are looking to Russia through an adversarial lens, AMB Tefft offers some contrarian views based on his experience and observations. A fascinating conversation you won’t want to miss.
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John Tefft is former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and currently a fellow a RAND Corporation. Bob Hamilton is Director of Eurasian Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo: Russian War Memorial, shot during a Victory Day celebration.
Photo Credit: Uncredited, from pxhere.com under creative commons license.
Consider Putin’s KGB background. The fall of the USSR was likely an affront to their collective identity as a former superpower by the elites.
So it’s not a surprise that Putin and others have always distrusted NATO and would like to have “their” former republics return to the fold, if for no other reason that to have a buffer (as China did in the past with Tibet and today with the South China Sea) once again. China hasn’t returned Tibet, I would expect Russia to do the same with the Ukraine.
Unfortunately, NATO is getting a short shrift by some of their own European countries who take their security in stride and forgetting their history of having the Soviets in East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, etc.