Here are a few interesting words from Putin regarding the
current tension between Russia,
the USA
and NATO. It is odd that Putin would be taking a more laid back approach to the
deterioration of relations between the US,
Western Europe and Russia.
Some interesting words from Putin:
"Let's be friends, guys, and engage in an honest dialogue," Putin said.
"Putin, who had been harshly critical of NATO in the past, sought to
emphasize positive elements in Russia's NATO ties, such as Russia's
agreement to facilitate transit of supplies for NATO forces in
Afghanistan across Russian territory. He shrugged off concerns that the
world is sliding toward a new East-West divide.
"None of the
global players—Europe, the United States or Russia—is interested in
returning to the past," Putin said. "And we have no ideological
differences."
"But he also warned the alliance cannot enhance security on the continent without Russia. "
Then again, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that Russia is backpedaling.
Russia is not the Soviet Union. It isn't a superpower. It does not have
major allies and client states all over the world and other than oil/natural
gas and weapon sales Russia has very little to fuel its economy. Actually, its
domestic economy is a disaster and that is why it is rolling back democracy. It
probably fears an electoral backlash because Russia is hardly a place that is
enjoyable to live in. That's not a knock on the Russian people as much as it is
an observation that its economy is shaky at best. If it were to start an
outright new Cold War with the west and then discovered its economy collapse
ala Zimbabwe, Russia would be
so overextended it would collapse under its own weight. Which is, incidentally,
exactly what happened with the Soviet Union.
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