FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 18, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, President Joe Biden spoke from the White House, saying he is convinced Russia will invade Ukraine. Defense Priorities Policy Director Benjamin H. Friedman issued the following statement in response:
“Many commentators are reasonably skeptical that just Washington removing the possibility of NATO expansion to Ukraine would prevent a Russian invasion, since Russia makes other demands. But the fact is that such an offer, as part of a diplomatic package also dealing with missile deployments, military exercises, and perhaps more, might prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine, though it would not exhaust Russian complaints.
“Washington’s failure to make such an offer is negligent, immoral and potentially catastrophic for Ukraine, the country U.S. leaders so loudly claim to be helping.
“U.S. officials have shown they would rather risk an invasion than give in on either the principle of NATO’s open door or the principle that you don’t surrender anything in the face of threats. But the first principle is fake, since NATO’s door is open and closed by members, including Americans. And the second principle does violence to how great powers historically avoid wars. The balancing of armies and nuclear-armed states involves compromise with coercion. Saying one should never give in to it, especially when nothing important is at stake, is childish.
“That Ukraine’s fate may turn on concessions the U.S. could make is the result of decades of failed strategy trying to extend U.S. dominance further east in Europe with increasingly dodgy promises. American officials should not be so involved in a fight between Russia and Ukraine. You can take sides morally, but it is fundamentally not our fight. Having foolishly thrust ourselves into this role, U.S. behavior has been utterly negligent, pushing Ukraine toward a confrontation it cannot win.”
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