Ukraine, U.S. need diplomacy

Any chance the nuclear deal with Iran might serve as a model for relations with other “enemy” nations? Couldn’t similar diplomacy prevent our current collision course with Russia? I am aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not a Boy Scout. Neither are we. That’s exactly why diplomacy beats threats and carnage.

As our ally, Soviet Russia broke the back of the Nazi Wehrmacht. With them as a speaking adversary during the Cold War, we avoided Armageddon. At its end, Russia voluntarily gave up its Baltic States, Ukraine and much more. They converted to capitalism.

Mikhail Gorbachev took down the Berlin Wall and disbanded the Warsaw Pact alliance in exchange for NATO not advancing past Germany. Ever since, a U.S.-led NATO has expanded east, chockablock on Russia’s borders. Now, the U.S. pressures a shaky Ukrainian regime to join NATO.

Imagine our reaction if Canada and Mexico joined a hostile military alliance training troops on our borders. Yet we accuse Russia of recklessness.

Ukraine will suffer unbearably, as we will, without negotiations that allow it to have balanced, demilitarized relations with Russia and the West. All parties must respect the rights of Ukrainian Russians who have deep roots in eastern Ukraine.

Fred Strange

Spokane