Kupchan (Charles Kupchan) in his article of 23 may sets out a reasonable version of how to behave as an American President Donald trump during a visit to Europe. In particular, he is absolutely right in saying that we have no choice in the Crimean issue, and we need to postpone it indefinitely.
But there are three snags. Without a war the West cannot force Russia to do something in Ukraine. Whether we like it or not, we must conclude with the Russian deal that protects their interests. Second, the order of actions on Donbass, which offers Kupchan, hopeless. The Russian will not go first, because they don’t trust us and believe that we will not be able to force the Ukrainians to fulfill their end of the bargain. The two processes — the withdrawal of troops of the warring parties and decision autonomy — should go hand in hand. And third, Kupchan attributed Western sanctions that influence, how they simply do not possess. Russia lives in conditions of sanctions, and lives quite comfortably. In fact, Russian farmers to improve their position thanks to the Russian countermeasures, will be horrified in the event of cancellation of sanctions. All sanctions do is give Vladimir Putin on the eve of elections an additional argument that he is the man who will protect Russians from the predatory West.
Sir Tony Brenton, British Ambassador to Russia between 2004 and 2008.
Cambridge, United Kingdom
