Putin has mobilized its forces on the border with Ukraine. The Russian President Vladimir Putin demands a guarantee that neither Ukraine nor Georgia will join NATO. Thus, he makes it clear to us that Russia remains a geopolitical rival.
I regret that, but I also regret that the West seems divided and confused and does not know how to deal with the challenge President Putin poses. Relations between NATO and Ukraine and Georgia date back to the early 1990s and have since developed into substantial NATO partnerships. Ukraine And Georgia have no chance of joining NATO for the foreseeable future, but NATO should support the two countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders.
I belong to those that are wary of giving the Ukrainians and Georgians false promises that the United States and NATO are prepared to defend them should President Putin be so senseless to invade. The West cannot tolerate a Russian invasion, but it is also clear that Ukraine and Georgia are not Sweden or Finland. Ukraine and Georgia simply have no vital security policy interest for the West. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to ensure a diplomatic solution.
Great powers will never allow an enemy at its borders, but NATO is not Russia’s enemy, and NATO has shown no intention of deploying missiles along the Russian border. Although a long time ago, the United States also rejected nuclear missile sites built by the Soviet Union on the island of Cuba in 1962, Cuba remained independent with strong relations with the communist countries. So should Ukraine and Georgia.
That is why Denmark and the rest of the EU stand together with the United States. I also have great respect for the fact that Denmark’s Foreign Minister traveled to Ukraine last week to mark our support for Ukraine.
The United States and NATO have to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine or Georgia, but optimally this irresponsible crisis will be resolved diplomatically. I am sure there will be new contacts between Moscow and Washington on security guarantees in the coming days. Let’s hope the West is firm, and less divided, to make it clear to Putin that we don’t want him as our enemy.
Obviously, Communist China is the biggest and most serious threat to our free and open society.
