The Best Way to End the Ukraine Crisis, John Mearsheimer Munk Debate

The Munk Debate - The Russia Ukraine War, Toronto, 12.05.2022
For education purposes.

Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer v Michael McFaul, Radosław Sikorski
By any measure, the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a profound security risk for the world. It raises fundamental issues about the basic principles that underwrite the current international order and it threatens the specter of an entrenched, high-risk Great Power conflict. How is this fast-evolving crisis best addressed? Does it demand a resolute and relentless push by the West to punish, isolate and degrade Putin’s Russia economically, politically, and militarily? Or is a solution to be found in acknowledging Russia’s security needs and finding ways to mutually de-escalate the war, sooner not later? Which of these different strategies stands the best chance of success? And how ultimately is this conflict best resolved?

International Relations scholar and offensive realist John Mearsheimer has blamed the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for the current crisis in Ukraine. Mearsheimer, who has been critical of US foreign policy since the Cold War, said in an interview with The New Yorker that NATO’s eastward expansion and its establishment of “close ties” with Ukraine have increased the chances of war between the US and Russia.
He said that the roots of the current crisis have their origins in 2008 when NATO agreed to admit Georgia and Ukraine. “The Russians made it unequivocally clear at the time that they viewed this as an existential threat, and they drew a line in the sand,” Mearsheimer notes. During the same year, Russia invaded Georgia and occupied the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Mearsheimer also notes that the European Union’s (EU) efforts to integrate Ukraine into its fold have unsettled Russia, which views the prospect of a “pro-American liberal democracy” at its doorstep as a grave security threat. According to him, the three core concerns of Russia are EU expansion, NATO expansion, and turning Ukraine into a pro-American liberal democracy.

Keeping this in mind, Mearsheimer posits that Ukraine joining the EU, and NATO, and becoming a democracy would be seen by Moscow as “categorically unacceptable.” A better way of approaching this situation, he says, is if Ukraine just became a democracy and had friendly ties with the US, rather than joining the EU and NATO. Ukraine “could probably get away with that,” Mearsheimer argues.

When you’re a country like Ukraine and you live next door to a great power like Russia, you have to pay careful attention to what the Russians think because if you take a stick and poke them in the eye, they’re going to retaliate,” he emphasized. Regarding Ukraine, Russia has taken a leaf out of the US playbook, Mearsheimer said, referring to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which that the US will not tolerate a foreign power bringing military forces into the region.

#johnmearsheimer
#Ukraine
#foreignpolicy
#internationalrelations

[gdaqian]

Mearsheimer always concise and on the point. Zero politicking. My hero.

[deeplookinto]

We need more people like him to achieve real and honest peace in this mad world

[dosa]

If we listened to Prof Mearsheimer back in 2009, 2014 and so forth, so many lives would been saved. It is too bad....

[tarmotyyri]

John is the voice of reason, but sadly far too few are willing to listen, especially in Washington & the Biden administration.

[abdourahmanealkhalifa]

What a great and clear description of Ukraine's crisis!

[steveconway]

Thank god for men like John Mearsheimer.

[dunfalemessa]

Thank you for giving the right answer for the Ukrain & Russian war.

[realnaveen]

Very clearly explained! It is a privilege to find clarity amidst chaos!

[non_dat_gratis_gratiam]

Thank you, dear Professor Mearsheimer!!! 🤍

[josecarlosgutierrezmargain]

How can we give a powerful impulse and views to this video? The World needs to know, especifically the intelligent US people!

[martinpranzkus]

In a time of madness and insanity is Prof. Maersheimer the only one with a razor sharp common sense? This is my perception and you feel free to criticize me for that

[Factexplorer]

praising this great man is not the priority here...it's given that he is a true patriot and gentleman to the core...what is important is for the people of the particular country to educate the illiterate leaders who have this filthy thought process of other getting other countries destroyed with their stupid ideas...

[dbiswas]

Yet, WHY successive US Governments ignoring his logical advice?!!!!?

[zecouves]

the man knows what he is talking about... not what the world wants to hear, but it´s still the truth...

[userbook]

great description by an intelligent man

[catsaresocute]

Yeah. That one tho. Like how do you want to end a war where you can't even say why the other side thinks that war is necessary? I mean that, practicaly speaking, seems hard.

[alexanderr.]

Horrible, this 3 pronged strategy should never be allowed: A country joining EU?! Never! A country developing a democratic system? For god's sake, let's prevent this! A country asking to join NATO? Don't even think about it. None of these things happened in the last 20 years on the European continent and this should stay like this to protect the fuzzy "interests" of an aggressive neighbour.

[bogdancomsa]

No, he didn't said he wants to conquer Ucraine. He only mentioned the number of days he needs to reach some east-europe capotals. Geopoplitics is ok with it if EU and US are to week to defend their parteners. After that, go confront China.

[taceyh]

There is no way Ukraine will ever accept being a land locked country! Not to mention the importance of Odessa for all food exports. So sadly there is no way to use diplomatic means. Russia wants a land bridge from Transnistria all across the Black sea to Russia. Putin will not give in on this. And Ukraine would cease to be a viable country nor would they ever accept it, nor would population of those who live in those areas

[MatthewGKHLim]

If the damages, lives lost and people displaced do not frighten Taiwanese, what else does.

Unlike Ukraine that has seen one conflict after another, Taiwan has lived through increasingly prosperity alongside with China's growth esp during last administration. But some people are simply envy of China and starts imagining a greater China threat. Put it simply. Do not think China is not capable of using nature to cause destruction. One tsunami can wipe off Taiwan west coast, another can flood the whole okinawa. Yet another can capsize all huge vessels in SCSea.