We need to step back from this. There is a better way. Ukraine could be a bridge between the West and Russia, rather than a prize to be fought over. Ukraine must negotiate a relationship with Russia that both countries can live with. There is no reason that cannot include an economic relationship with the European Union that encourages desperately needed reform within Ukraine, while at the same time promoting trilateral economic ties beneficial to all three parties. The EU leadership can help with this. If we have no vital interests in Ukraine, European countries do have vital interests in not seeing a large-scale ground war break out on their continent. The clarity of our decision making on this issue would improve if we stopped demonizing Russia’s leader. He is not Hitler, and Ukraine is not Czechoslovakia. Putin is an authoritarian leader in a country that has known nothing but authoritarianism and disorder, and prefers the former to the latter. His brand of authoritarianism is, to date, less restrictive than the political practices in China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to name just a few. Russia considers its interests in Ukraine vital, but its objectives have been limited, as have been the means chosen to achieve them. It will escalate if necessary to protect its interests, but it would rather negotiate.

Raymond Smith spent roughly 30 years in the US Foreign Service, including six in Moscow. Significant assignments included Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, Moscow and Director, Office of former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He is the author of Negotiating with the Soviets (Indiana University Press, 1989) and The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats (Potomac Press, 2011).

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