Posted on 10/18/2022 7:55:53 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Former US ambassador to the Soviet Union, Jack Matlock has admitted that Ukraine’s own actions brought about their own peril with regards to Russia.
“The war might have been prevented – probably would have been prevented – if Ukraine had been willing to abide by the Minsk agreement, recognize the Donbas as an autonomous entity within Ukraine, avoid NATO military advisors, and pledge not to enter NATO,” Matlock said.
“Nevertheless, what was possible even as late as January 2022 may not be possible now. The Russian annexation of additional territory raises the stakes. But the longer the war continues the harder it is going to be to avoid the utter destruction of Ukraine,” he added.
The full quote, posted by The Grayzone’s Aaron Mate on Twitter, can be seen here:
Fmr. US ambassador to the Soviet Union, Jack Matlock: “if Ukraine had been willing to abide by the Minsk agreement, recognize the Donbas as an autonomous entity within Ukraine, avoid NATO military advisors, and pledge not to enter NATO,” war “probably would have been prevented.” pic.twitter.com/F4zDDzEPeX
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) October 17, 2022
Matlock, who helped negotiate an end to the Cold War, penned an op/ed calling for the U.S. to adopt a less aggressive stance against Russia and promote peace between the Russians and the Ukrainians.
“The only practical way to stop the actual fighting would be to agree on a ceasefire. This is difficult for the Ukrainians since they are liberating some of the occupied territories, but the reality is that if the war continues Russia is capable of damaging Ukraine more than Ukraine can damage Russia without risking a wider war,” Matlock said.
“As principal arms supplier to Ukraine, the U.S. should encourage the Ukrainians to agree to a ceasefire. As the sponsor of the most punitive sanctions on Russia, the U.S. should use its leverage to induce Russia to agree to genuine negotiations during a ceasefire,” he continued.
“Negotiations must be conducted in private to be successful, which would require a revival of U.S.-Russia diplomacy. Over the past few years, tit-for-tat expulsions have reduced both countries to skeleton diplomatic staffs. Nevertheless, if there is a will to talk and negotiate, ways can be found. So far, it is the will that seems to be lacking,” Matlock added.
Matlock has been an opponent of NATO expansion, warning since the outset of the conflict that Western globalist imperialism regarding Ukraine initiated hostilities.
“Since Putin’s major demand is an assurance that NATO will take no further members, and specifically not Ukraine or Georgia, obviously there would have been no basis for the present crisis if there had been no expansion of the alliance following the end of the Cold War, or if the expansion had occurred in harmony with building a security structure in Europe that included Russia,” Matlock wrote in February, adding that “NATO expansion was the most profound strategic blunder made since the end of the Cold War.”
Unfortunately for the Ukrainian people, the conflict is not likely to end any time soon because gay-dancing dwarf Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to say anything the military-industrial complex prepares for him to read on a script in front of a green screen. This worthless coward would gleefully sacrifice all his countrymen to keep the lines of blow coming.
Sounds like an abusive husband; “Look what you made me do!”
BTTT
Hush Putin stooge and shill!
You must love Vladimir Putin!
How much is the Kremlin paying you to say that?!
You hate America!!
/s
Divorce is great for families. /s
Actually it’s the opinion of a professional diplomat who has spent a lot of time in Russia and knows the mindset of the Russian ppl. I’d trust he knows more about the situation than you. 🤣
That’s the editorialized words of the writer not the former ambassador
This is a guy associated with that bunch of mostly Clinton and Carter-era diplomats and jokes called Diplomats for Change or something like that that emerged after 911.
True, Ukraine Nazis and GloboHomo Tyranny could have had constructive peace, if they had abided by the Minsk Agreements.
But then they couldn't stab anyone in the back, an impossibility, for them.
Now that they forced this confrontation, it's best that Zelensky fight to the last Ukrainian, as he's promised to do.
Poopin Puffer Dirty RuZZian Mongol Orc baby killer!
Nothing yet as of 10:11 am CST. They must be in between shift changes or haven’t rolled out of bed yet. Plus its late afternoon/evening over in Ukraine.
I'll start paying attention to that.
I knew I forgot some....
lulz
Describes the fascist regime in Kiev after the 2014 coup to a tee.
Matlock along with Admiral Crow were members of Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change in 2004... while not directly feeding up to supporting John Kerry for president, that was the effect for all practical purposes.
Crowe was a pusher of the Anthrax vaccine in Clinton’s time and an investor in Big Pharma...as were others in the group...
The biggest beneficiary of the order to force the anthrax vaccine on the military was Adm. William Crowe, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had provided political “cover” for Clinton at a key moment during his bid for the presidency in 1992. Crowe personally vouched for Clinton against charges that he was a draft dodger.
Well, a little update is in order:
Admiral Crowe is one of the people involved in this group below:
26 Former U.S. Officials Oppose Bush Associated Press ^ | Today, a little more than an hour ago. June 13, 2004
WASHINGTON - Angered by Bush administration policies they contend endanger national security, 26 retired U.S. diplomats and military officers are urging Americans to vote President Bush out of office in November. The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, does not explicitly endorse Democrat John Kerry for president in its campaign, which will start officially Wednesday at a Washington news conference. The Bush-Cheney campaign said Sunday it would have no response until the group formally issues its statement at the news conference. Among the group are 20 ambassadors, appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, other former State Department officials and military leaders whose careers span three decades. Excerpted - click for full article ^ Source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040614/ap_on_el_pr/diplomats_letter
A list of members includes:
... Prominent members include retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East during the administration of Bush’s father; retired Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., ambassador to Britain under President Clinton and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Reagan; and Jack F. Matlock Jr., a member of the National Security Council under Reagan and ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991....
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