Dear CCI Friends,

There are many in our world today who would like to characterize the ongoing conflict/war between Russia and Ukraine as a battle between good and evil, good guys versus bad guys, innocent victims versus mad aggressor.   Any deviation from that line brings down a rain of condemnation; one is either a Putin puppet or a proto-Nazi-globalist-apologist depending on the direction of the deviation.

This characterization of the drama reduces it to a simple Batman and Robin episode (or video game) where all will be well when the good guys win (finally!) and we can dust our hands off and move on.  That the conflict is in fact a tragedy involving a few truly malign actors, who may pay nothing for their sins, and many more expendable extras who have already paid with their lives, makes the conclusion  inevitable, the dictionary definition of tragedy – “a disastrous event, a calamity, having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion.”

The following interview with Professor Richard Sakwa explores the deep and deeply entwined roots of Ukrainian and Russian history and culture and the relationship of both to Europe today.  Please give it your consideration.  It is a clear-eyed view of the rocky road to peace ahead.

“What Sort of Europe Do We Want After This War?”

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/

As always, your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Folks,

Here is a wise and tragic interview with a Russian General who opposed and opposes the current war and says why.  Everything he says is arguably true at some level.  It seems to be a combination:  of a smart military man who knows the specifics of the situation,  and of a former combat soldier who, as most other combat veterans, like myself, does not want to go back to war or to send his progeny.  We combat veterans all have experienced the problem of politics and big egos driving a war and eschew it.  As Clausewitz said, “War is the continuation of policy with other means.”  This war is no exception and we have outlined the politics that have brought this one to us and continue to force it to some unknown conclusion.

Sadly, as he says the current egos and long standing political ideas and mistakes make this one very difficult to stop.  We can only hope that in the end we will be able to get back to our purpose which is to help create better relations between the USA and Russia through citizen to citizen diplomacy.  That will allow us to work on his ultimate point  which is that we will not have a better world until we have better humans who understand that we are all in this together.  Hopefully we will get back to working on that soon.

All my best,

Charles Heberle, COL, USA(Ret)
Director, Center for Citizen Initiatives

From Filmmaker Alexander Korobko:

“In January 2022, just weeks before Russia launched its Special Military Operation in Ukraine, retired Russian General Leonid Ivashov published an open letter titled “The Eve of War.” In this letter, the former top Russian general cautioned Putin against invading Ukraine. The letter attracted significant international attention and was widely reported by Western media – from the New York Post to the Daily Mail and beyond. At the time, Michael McFaul described Ivashov’s text as a “big deal.”

Since then, while General Ivashov has granted a few interviews to online media outlets, he has never been asked about his anti-war open letter. Consequently, “The Eve of War” and its arguments against the realities of the past four years have largely been ignored. As an independent journalist and filmmaker originally from Donetsk, who has known CCI for a long time, I decided to break that silence. In a rare and candid conversation, General Ivashov spoke about the letter, its warnings, and the current state of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”The video of the interview and  the interview transcript follow.

The video of the interview and  the interview transcript follow.

Link to Transcript

Dear CCI Friends,

The last decade has taught us more than we ever wanted to know about propaganda and the need to learn the delicate art of separating truth from spin, deft language manipulation, and outright lies. We have also learned a thing or two about viciousness, as in the libel, slander, defamation and general vitriol that will be directed against anyone who questions the ‘official narrative’, otherwise known as propaganda (and which used to be called “the party line”).

Now the war on, and with, words is kicking into a higher gear, one with even more damaging physical effects.  Consider the case of Jacques Baud, please.  A retired Swiss army intelligence officer who has held senior positions at the UN and who has served as an advisor to NATO on Ukrainian affairs, he is an experienced and respected geopolitical analyst.  His take on the Ukraine/Russia affair does not quite match official European Community group think, however, and they have gone after him with a vengeance.

Please see his interview with Danny Davis and give us your take on the situation.  Is it as dire as Patrick Lawrence suggests?

SANCTIONED:  Targeted by the EU

As Lawrence summarizes the issue:

“Europe Has Gone Completely Off The Rails”

https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/free-speech-and-its-enemies?

What do you think?

Welcome to 2026, friends!  
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

To those not afflicted, Russophobia looks like any other irrational form of bigotry and we have focused on the subject in the past.  Now, Professor Jeffrey Sachs has taken an in depth look at the phenomenon in an article that spells out how two hundred years of  ‘Western’ hatred of Russia – up to and including the present era – has little or nothing to do with Russian misdeeds or aggression. 

Europe Assumes Russia Is An Exception To Normal Diplomatic Rules

https://consortiumnews.com/2025/12/24/jeffery-sachs-two-centuries-of-russophobia-rejection-of-peace/

Former Ambassador Jack Matlock’s recollection of the most significant period in modern geopolitical history, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, reinforces Sachs’ judgment.  Ambassador Matlock’s assessment of what happened versus what should have happened during that period comes from his direct, personal involvement.  He brings that history up to the present day as the ramifications of what happened then play out in what is going on now in Ukraine.

“NATO Expansion, Coup and the Subversion of Ukraine”

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/jack-matlock-nato-expansion-coup?

There’s a lot to process here, folks, and it’s fascinating.  May this holiday week give you the time to digest it all.  

Cheers and Happy New Year!

The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear Friends,

May the sentiment of the season infect our world:
 

Peace On Earth
Good Will to All

Warmest holiday wishes to all of our CCI friends and Thank You for your continuing support.  Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,
Sharon, Paula, Krishen and Charles
The Center for Citizen Initiatives