Brzezinsky: "Ukraine needs to give weapons"

Former US presidential advisers spoke at the US National Security Hearing

The US Senate Armed Forces Committee on Wednesday, National Security, took place on Wednesday. These were the first hearings, chaired by the Republican Senator from Arizon, John McCain, the Republican Party won the Congress in the November elections , and now its representatives are heading all the committees of both chambers. Two elders of American foreign policy were invited to the hearings - former US presidential advisers on National Security Zbignnev Brzezinsky and Brent Skokucroft. Both are now employees of one of the leading analytical centers of the country - the Center for International Political Studies . Brzezinsky and Skokucroft called on senators to pay increased attention to relations with Russia in the field of nuclear security and provide Ukraine with defensive weapons.

At the hearing, he was discussing a number of international issues - from the threat of terrorism and the situation in the Middle East to the Iranian nuclear program. A significant part of the discussion was devoted to Russia and American-Russian relations. Despite the fact that Zbignnev Brzezinsky and Brent Skokucroft were once political opponents-Brzezinsky worked in the White House under the Democrat President Jimmy Carter, and Skokucroft was an adviser to Republican George Bush Sr.-their vision of the current situation in the world and today's threats to the US national security is in many ways. Both former politicians believe that the main task of the United States in the field of national security should be the prevention of nuclear conflict:

“First of all, we need to pay maximum attention to our nuclear structures and our relations with Russia in the field of nuclear security, because in no case we want nuclear war,” said Brent Skowroft, answering the question of Senator McCain, about what, in his opinion, should be put at the forefront of American strategy in the field of national security. According to Skokucroft, the United States and Russia must structure their nuclear forces in such a way that neither one or the other side even had a desire to think that it can deliver the first blow in such a way that this will destroy all the offensive nuclear forces of the enemy.

It is alarming that in a crisis situation around Ukraine, Putin recalls the threat of nuclear weapons.

Zbignnev Brzezinsky believes that on the issue of nuclear security, the United States and Russia should not forget about the lessons that history presented to them. "It is quite obvious that we are opposed to each other, and in the past we had to deal with crisis situations. I hope that we have learned from this lessons and that the Russians also made it." However, Bzhzinsky believes, some statements and actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding nuclear weapons are an concern. "It is alarming that in the conditions of a crisis situation around Ukraine, and this situation is a limited crisis with elements of ground warfare, Putin reminds of the threat of nuclear weapons. Many may not pay attention to this, but Putin said in his public statements that, they say, we have nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities. And he accompanied his words, namely, with extreme provocative flights Russian military aircraft on Scandinavia, part of Western Europe and even over the distant Portugal.

Putin's character has dangerous features, because of which we can all advance to very dangerous confrontations

Brent Skokucroft believes that despite the crisis situation around Ukraine and the actions of Russia in relation to this state, the relations of the United States and Russia should not become the same during the Cold War. "Russia today is a difficult problem, but I do not think that the Cold War is returning, and I think that we should not do anything to contribute to its renewal." Zbignnev Brzezinsky also spoke out against direct confrontation with Russia, but he called on the American government to take steps that would prevent Russia's aggressive actions in the future. "In Europe, Putin plays with fire. He finances the local uprising and supplies weapons to the rebels. Periodically, he even resorts to military intervention in order to destabilize Ukraine economically and politically, thus destroying its hopes for joining Europe. In connection with this, economic sanctions applied by the West should remain in force until Russia actually fulfills its oral Promises that she will respect the sovereignty of Ukraine.

The sanctions, however, is the Zbignnev Brzezinsky, is not enough. "NATO, and especially the United States, must provide Ukraine with a defensive weapon. If this is not done, then this will only increase the temptation of Russia to the escalation of the intervention."

At the same time, Brzezinsky believes, the West must be given to Russia to understand that he is ready for a diplomatic decision of the situation around Russia. In his opinion, the conflict can be resolved on the principles of the so -called "finlandization" of Ukraine, which would provide that Ukraine will be a state -oriented state, but not a member of NATO. At the same time, Brzezinsky emphasized that in order to preserve peace in Europe, it is necessary to take steps to strengthen the security of the Baltic states. "The only true and peaceful way to strengthen regional stability is the placement of NATO military personnel in the Baltic states, including American ones, which would be a kind of cover. Such placement would not threaten Russia due to its limited proportions, but this would reduce the temptation of Russia irresponsibly to repeat the script in the Crimea in the Baltic countries." Regional security in Eastern Europe, according to Zbignev Brzezinsky, can also be significantly strengthened due to the speedy placement of NATO military equipment and the United States in Poland.