Dear CCI Friends,

Former US Ambassador to the Soviet Union Jack Matlock is a terrific resource on the history of US-Russia relations as they have progressed – or regressed – since 1991.  His intimate knowledge of the causes and consequences of the dissolution of the Soviet Union contrasts sharply with the popular view promoted here – that “We Won! They Lost! We Rule!”  Reality is subtler, more complicated and more interesting.  

The article below gives us Ambassador Matlock’s bird’s eye view of the negotiations that brought the USSR to an end as well as his astute speculation on how misreading – or deliberately mischaracterizing – that process for the past thirty years has brought us to the brink of nuclear war.  

I hope you appreciate it as I did – please let us know.

Sincerely,

Paula Day, Director
Center for Citizen Initiatives

---

“The Christmas Gift That Keeps on Giving”

February, 2024

By Jack F. Matlock, Jr.

On December 24, 1989, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Aboimov informed me on behalf of the Soviet government, ‘We have given the Brezhnev Doctrine to you with our compliments. Consider it a Christmas gift.”

Now, some thirty-four years later, I should explain what the Brezhnev Doctrine was, the circumstances under which the gift was conveyed, and why I believe that it was a gift that has infused US foreign policy to this very day.

[Continue Reading]

* Please note: ‘1979’ in the last sentence should be ‘1989.’ Correction by Ambassador Matlock.

Dear CCI Friends,

The brief article below provides a glimpse of hope that life may return to more rational approaches.  The Slovakian Minister of Culture sums it up:

“There are dozens of military conflicts going on in the world, and, in our opinion, artists and culture must not suffer because of them.”

As always, we look forward to your thoughts.

Pamela, Paula and Krishen Center for Citizen Initiatives

---

Signs of Light?

January 20, 2024

BRATISLAVA, January 20. /TASS/. Minister of Culture of Slovakia Martina Simkovicova cancelled the decree that suspended cultural cooperation with Russia and Belarus after February 24, 2022, Slovakia’s Pravda newspaper reported.

“There are dozens of military conflicts going on in the world, and, in our opinion, artists and culture must not suffer because of them,” the Minister said, according to her spokesman Pavol Corba.

In March of 2022, the Ministry of Culture of Slovakia banned contacts and cooperation with Russia and Belarus. Its former head, Natalia Milanova, representative of one of the liberal parties that lost power in the republic after the recent elections, justified it by the condemnation of the special military operation in Ukraine.

The incumbent Minister, who represents the Slovak National Party, cancelled her predecessor’s decree on January 12. According to the newspaper, it has lost effect since January 15.

[Continue Reading]

Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues,

In the following interview, Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, articulates Russia’s perspective on the relationship between itself and the West, particularly the United States.  

We understand that our CCI Community spans many perspectives and as always, we welcome your thoughts and insights.  

Best regards,

Paula, Pamela and Krishen  
Center for Citizen Initiatives

---

Diplomacy and the UN

December 31, 2023

Video Interview: Russian Diplomacy at the UN – Dmitry Polyanskiy, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen

Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues,

One must marvel at the level of wild, threatening language being tossed around these days; is it childishly irresponsible or deadly serious – or both?

Recently, Americans were shaken to learn that one of our top generals sees American troops on the ground in Europe fighting Russians if Congress fails to send more money to Ukraine. Would anyone seriously contemplate such a thing? Apparently so.

Stephen Bryen analyses the threat and the underlying assumption – that Russia must be stopped before it overtakes Europe. It is a compelling piece based on a sober, and sane, assessment of what is really happening ‘over there,’ and it is not what either General Austin or the Biden administration seem to believe. A link to Mr. Bryen’s biography and professional experience is included so that you can make your own determination on the plausibility of his perspective.

We are also providing a link to Edward Lozansky’s recent piece in New Kontinent. Mr. Lozansky, President and Founder of the American University in Moscow, brings his own unique perspective on the crisis, not just in Ukraine but in the whole of Western civilization, evidenced by these wildly irrational threats.

I hope you will consider these arguments carefully and let us know your thoughts on the matter.

And thank you for joining us in the ongoing attempt to make sense of our world!

Paula Day
Center for Citizen Initiatives

---

General Austin Threatens Congress – General Milley Threatens Russians

December 6, 2023

By Stephen Byren

Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, threatened Congress over aid for Ukraine. Austin said that if Congress does not appropriate $61 billion in aid for Ukraine it is “very likely” US troops on the ground in Europe will be fighting Russia.

Republican Senators walked out of the briefing after twenty minutes.

What is behind this threat is the notion that Russia, after it finishes with Ukraine, will launch attacks in Europe. 

Objectively there is no evidence that Russia threatens anyone in Europe even though a lot of Russians think they should.  After all, Europe is providing massive military aid, intelligence and technical help to Ukraine in the war with Russia, along with training Ukrainian troops and helping Ukraine develop its war plans.   Stocks of European weapons, meant for NATO defense, have been shipped to Kiev.  Most of them won’t be replaced for decades, if ever.

From Russia’s point of view the real land grabber is NATO.  After all, despite Russia’s warnings and promises made to Russia that were blatantly violated, NATO expanded in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe. (The Russians were frequently assured, starting with former President Bill Clinton, that NATO would not expand.)

[Continue Reading]

Stephen Bryen, Senior Fellow – Yorktown Institute (Bio)

War in Ukraine as an indicator of the gravest crisis of Western civilization – New Kontinent