Russia in Global Affairs

The initial stage of confrontation between Russia and the West is a process of consolidating the positions of both opposing sides. One of its most obvious manifestations is the beginning of Finland and Sweden joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, writes Konstantin Khudoley.

In 2021, Russia’s foreign policy seems to have entered a new stage. Let us call it the “constructive destruction” of the previous model of relations with the West.

Although Russia is responsible for its actions, there are those, both in Ukraine and particularly in the West, who have been working hard for years to transform Ukraine into a bridgehead, even a launching pad against Russia, not caring at all what it may ultimately mean not only for Russia but also for Ukraine.

Russia’s advantage comes from the fact that its military capabilities in the potential zone of conflict are far beyond those of the US and NATO, and that Russia is in a position to apply force should the worst possible scenario be realized. America’s advantage lies in its international dominance over the realm of media and information. In reality, no one wants a military solution.

On January 27, 2022, Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, took part in an American-Russian online conversation, titled “Can War In Ukraine Be Avoided?”. The webinar was organized by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

On January 27, 2022, at 9:00 p.m. Moscow time (GMT+3) Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, will take part in an American-Russian online conversation, titled “Can War In Ukraine Be Avoided?”. The webinar is organized by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

On January 19, 2022, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion dedicated to the consultations between representatives of Russia and the West on security guarantees in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna. The discussion was moderated by Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine.

A simple Google news search will lead the curious to literally dozens of articles about the likelihood of invasion. But there is something odd with this overwhelming onslaught of news: the articles have seemingly skipped the set-up, the lead-up from the Russian side that ostensibly should be driving this conflict forward.

Thirty years after the beginning of the new era, Moscow seems to have come to the conclusion that maintaining the previous system of omissions and signals becomes unproductive and only deepens the crisis.