Historically and even today, Russia has much in common with Ukraine—the United States, almost nothing.

The Nation
November 14, 2019
By Stephen F. Cohen

For centuries and still today, Russia and large parts of Ukraine have had much in common—a long territorial border; a shared history; ethnic, linguistic, and other cultural affinities; intimate personal relations; substantial economic trade; and more. Even after the years of escalating conflict between Kiev and Moscow since 2014, many Russians and Ukrainians still think of themselves in familial ways. The United States has almost none of these commonalities with Ukraine.

Which is also to say that Ukraine is not “a vital US national interest,” as most leaders of both parties, Republican and Democrat alike, and much of the US media now declare. On the other hand, Ukraine is a vital Russian interest by any geopolitical or simply human reckoning.

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Dear CCI Friends,

We Americans are told we need new supersonic missiles that are 5 times faster than the speed of sound in order to ward off an attack from Russia or China.

We who keep up with Russia closely are absolutely certain that Russia has no intention to start a war with us, nor would China. Why would these countries risk a war after renovating their major cities with new 40-story buildings, concentrating on consumer production throughout the world and re-establishing their classical cultures? A war to demolish all that they are working so hard to rebuild in the past 20 years???  Come on now!

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Dear CCI Friends,

I don’t know whether you get as much information on these topics as I get, but I can’t avoid choosing to spend 2020 doing everything I can do to reject war-making and war continuation. We comfortable people here in America MUST come to grips with what is going on in our name and with our tax dollars. Please help with educating the American public in 2020 — so many are blithely unaware of these facts below.

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Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues,

A Russian whom we Americans love and respect, President Mikhail Gorbachev, spoke out yesterday. His health is in a precarious place and has been for some time, but speaking out on the state of our world seems to give him the impetus to stay alive till now.

In September just passed we had an appointment with President Gorbachev which he was unable to keep due to his condition that day. His devoted interpreter and friend for over 40 years, Pavel Palazhchenko, met with us for two hours shortly thereafter. Our ageing hero is rarely able to keep appointments these days, but even so, still sends out strong messages. His insistence is that we Americans and Russians MUST resurrect our former good relations; or else humanity may cease to exist.

Below is his latest message and following it are several other URL’s delivered in the past few days. Study them and think seriously with us what we can do to get Gorbachev’s messages out to our American friends who don’t take seriously the imminent danger in which we now find ourselves.

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