Much has been written about Russia’s threatening of Ukraine, including the thought that Russia’s main concern is keeping Ukraine out of NATO. This seems a reasonable fear on Russia’s part. To have a potential adversary at their doorstep armed with short-range missiles within reach of Moscow is an alarming prospect. For context, remember the U.S. reaction to Russian missiles in Cuba!

I can see no rational for the U.S. to embrace Ukraine as a member of NATO. Ukraine serves our interests well as a buffer state between Eastern Europe and Russia. And NATO in many respects is an outdated yoke around our neck. Most of the 30 countries comprising NATO have no credible military capability and some do not even maintain their military budgets as required by the NATO agreement.

I think a reasonable negotiating position would be for the U.S. to guarantee in a written treaty not to accept Ukraine into NATO in exchange for Russia’s written guarantee to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Ralph R. Boericke

Mystic