David Vance SubstackRead More
Today sees MORE grandstanding from UK PM Sir Keir Starmer as top military leaders from about 20 countries gather in London, as the UK and France launch a “coalition of the willing” that will “monitor” peace efforts in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Starmer and Macron seem to think that this will mean British and French “boots on the ground and planes in the sky” in Ukraine.
This really is a mass delusion because Russia has consistently ruled out any deal that facilitates soldiers from NATO countries in Ukraine!
Why does Putin feel so strongly about this? Let’s just understand the backdrop that the legacy media hide from you.
Russia’s objection to NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine is rooted in a mix of history, security worries, and power dynamics.
First off, Russia sees NATO as its old rival. Back in the Cold War, NATO was the Western military alliance set up to counter the Soviet Union, which Russia was the heart of. Even though the Soviet Union is gone, Russia still feels threatened by NATO’s growth.
Since the 1990s, NATO has expanded eastward, adding countries like Poland and the Baltic states—places that used to be in Russia’s sphere of influence. To Russia, this feels like the West creeping closer to its borders, and Ukraine is a huge red line for them. It’s right next door, shares a long history with Russia, and has been a buffer between Russia and NATO. If NATO peacekeepers were in Ukraine, Russia would see it as the enemy parking troops in its backyard. And it would be quite right to think this!
Second, Russia’s leaders, especially Vladimir Putin, argue that NATO isn’t just about defense—it’s about power. They say NATO’s real goal is to weaken Russia and control places it used to dominate. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Putin claimed it was to stop Ukraine from joining NATO, which he saw as a direct threat. He doesn’t trust NATO to be neutral or peaceful.
To him, “peacekeepers” from NATO countries—like the U.S., Britain, or Germany—wouldn’t just keep the peace; they’d be a foothold for NATO to meddle in Ukraine and challenge Russia’s influence. Russia worries these troops could help Ukraine rebuild its military or even attack Russian-held areas later on.
Third, there’s a practical side. Russia wants Ukraine to stay neutral—not aligned with NATO or the West. It’s demanded this in peace talks, saying Ukraine should never join NATO and should limit its military ties with Western countries. NATO peacekeepers would blow that idea out of the water. Russia sees them as a step toward Ukraine becoming a NATO member, even if it’s not official yet. Plus, after fighting a war against Ukraine with NATO countries supplying weapons, Russia doesn’t trust those same nations to play fair as peacekeepers. They’d rather have United Nations peacekeepers, who they think would be less biased, than NATO ones tied to their rivals.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said on the record that NATO peacekeepers would be an “act of war” or lead to “uncontrollable escalation” in conflict.
So what Starmer and Macron are trying to do may keep the war going! Maybe that is their aim?
In short, Russia objects because they see NATO peacekeepers as a threat to their security, a challenge to their influence, and a betrayal of their demand for a neutral Ukraine. It’s hard to disagree with them because they are absolutely right!
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