By Aly Kamadia, Editor-In-Chief, iDose

As these words are being authored, on Monday February 28^th, 2022 (evening EST), the situation in Ukraine continues to be extremely tragic, and is likely to get worse.

American President Joe Biden is forced to walk an extremely fine line in his response to Russian President Vladimir Putin. After all, neither the US nor Russia can afford to engage in any sort of direct conflict with each other, by virtue of being the two countries presiding over the largest nuclear arsenals on the planet.

While the risk of nuclear war between the US and Russia remains almost non-existent, policy makers would do well to ensure that none of their provocations change this. Indeed, history has shown how rapidly the likelihood of nuclear catastrophe can emerge (a relevant example that comes to mind is the Cuban Missile Crisis).

Within this context, while Biden’s decision not to move any American troops into Ukraine was driven by common sense, one shouldn’t underestimate its importance.

Moreover, insofar as a diplomatic resolution to stop Russia’s attack on Ukraine is possible, I am of the opinion that America should recognize legitimate Russian security concerns.

To be clear, I am in no way stating that Putin had the right to launch a major attack on Ukraine. Neither am I excusing any Russian behavior.

But unlike broadcast American (and much of Western) media, I am unwilling to hide the fact that the Russians view NATO expansion (including potential membership of Ukraine) as a serious security threat.  

In this regard, it’s worth quoting Joe Biden’s current CIA director, William J. Burns, who in 2008 wrote (to then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice):

Ukraine entry into NATO is the brightest of all redlines for the Russian elite (not just Putin). In more than two and a half years of conversations with key Russian players, from knuckle-draggers in the dark recesses of the Kremlin to Putin’s sharpest liberal critics, I have yet to find anyone who views Ukraine in NATO as anything other than a direct challenge to Russian interests.

This week, iDose is running two articles that the reader will find useful if they are attempting to consider how part of the situation might look from a Russian perspective.

After all, whether you view your opponent as a saint or the devil, you would be well advised to understand how and what he is thinking; an obvious point that media pundits and too many experts seem literally incapable of comprehending.

Stay safe,