Russian security proposals addressed to the US and NATO continue to be commented on in the West. At the same time, they most often demonstrate a lack of understanding of Russia’s concerns about the possible expansion of NATO at the expense of Ukraine. The former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, expressed bewilderment on this score. Russian political scientist Nikolai Starikov answered him sharply.
McFaul tweeted the following: “Russia has the most powerful armed forces in Europe. In terms of nuclear, conventional, cyber and space weapons, Russia is one of the three most powerful countries in the world. So help me understand how Estonia’s NATO membership threatens Russia? Or does Ukraine threaten Russia? “about:blank
Commenting on this entry, Nikolai Starikov wrote in his Telegram channel: “This is written by the former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. Either he is fooling or not. Let’s try to help him. Careful so as not to disturb his picture of the world. “
Starikov, by analogy, reminded the ex-ambassador of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. “Does little Cuba threaten the United States? But Cuba did not even join the Warsaw Pact. They simply put Soviet missiles there, – the political scientist noted. – And from the Cuban coast to Florida only 60 km. This means that the rocket will arrive so quickly that you won’t have time to say meow. You will not have time to shoot down, you will not have time to react. It was this that caused such anxiety in President Kennedy that he actually threatened the USSR with war so that the missiles from Cuba would be removed. “
“Does it mean that Kennedy was worried in vain? Cuba is small, isn’t it? ” – the political scientist asks a rhetorical question.
Since then, according to him, many years have passed, missiles began to fly much faster. But the problem is the same.
“It sounds like this: flight time. And one more thing: when Estonia or Ukraine or someone else becomes a member of a military bloc, this bloc places on its territory what it sees fit. Flight time, Michael, flight time. Therefore, Russia is warning you just as Kennedy warned us then. We will not tolerate this. Is it clear now, Mr. McFaul? “, Concluded Nikolai Starikov. [NATO]
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