Veteran American diplomat Henry Kissinger called on the West not to try to inflict a crushing defeat on Russian forces in Ukraine, warning that this would have disastrous consequences for Europe's long-term stability, according to a Telegraph article by Neokohn .
The former US Secretary of State and creator of the Cold War rapprochement between the US and China said at a meeting in Davos that it would be fatal if the West got caught up in the mood of the moment and forgot Russia's role in the European balance of power.
According to Kissinger, the war should not be allowed to drag on for a long time and the West should consider calling and forcing Ukraine to start negotiating on terms that fall far short of its current war goals.
“Negotiations must begin in the next two months before this creates upheaval and tension that will not be easy to overcome. Ideally, the dividing line should be a return to the status quo ante. Continuing the war beyond this point would no longer be about Ukraine's freedom, but would start a new war against Russia itself, " Kissinger said.
At the World Economic Forum, Kissinger also said that Russia has been an indispensable part of Europe for 400 years and was a guarantee of the balance of power in Europe during critical periods.
European leaders must not lose sight of the longer-term relationship and risk forcing Russia into a permanent alliance with China. "I hope the heroism of the Ukrainians is accompanied by wisdom," he said, adding with his famous sense of realpolitik that the proper role for the country would be that of a neutral buffer state.
Source: Mandarin
Photo: MTI/EPA pool/Olivier Hoslet
Of course, György Soros also spoke at the forum in Davos and expressed his opinion on the Russian-Ukrainian war, read MTI news.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine could be the beginning of World War III, so the best way for the West to preserve the free world is to defeat the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the businessman said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"The best and perhaps only way to preserve our civilization is to defeat Putin as soon as possible. This is the point," said 91-year-old György Soros. According to him, Putin, who says that the special military operation is progressing well and achieving its goals, now considers the invasion a failure and is preparing for a cease-fire negotiation. "However, a cease-fire is unfeasible because it cannot be trusted. The weaker Putin becomes, the more unpredictable he becomes."
The businessman also spoke about the fact that the European Union must understand that Putin can simply stop Russian natural gas deliveries, which cover 40 percent of Europe's needs, "while it can still cause pain."
I can't predict the end, but Ukraine has a chance to win," he added.
Echoing the previous statements of Democratic US President Joe Biden, György Soros believed that the West is at war with autocratic governments. We are witnessing the rise of repressive regimes while open societies have come under siege. Today, China and Russia are the biggest threats to open societies," he added.
Featured Image: John Macdougall / AFP
