Putin and Lukashenko’s message: what’s behind rhetoric?

The statement is not new, but the intimate conversations of dictators in a monastery, and specifically on Valaam, are, in the opinion of their associates, supposed to send a clear signal of the seriousness of these threats.

Not everyone heard it. Perhaps the picture is too pitiful for anyone to even pay attention to the words. But still, the U.S. did hear it, and Donald Trump even ordered preventive measures to sober up the “scaremongers.”

"Be that as it may, in the coming weeks we will again hear the creaking of the old and worn-out Kremlin record about nuclear strikes on Europe, Oreshnik, the might of Russia, all sorts of statements from “patriotic” bloggers, videos, and the demonstrative joy of ordinary Russians at the increased threat of nuclear apocalypse… "

Of course, nothing will actually happen, but the shaking of the information space to create advantages in negotiations will push people’s “psychological swings” quite a bit…

It is important that Ukraine does not just wait and remain silent. This whole loud “nuclear” information dispute gives us an opportunity to remind the world about Ukraine’s role in nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to come forward with real initiatives.

Let me remind you that from February next year, none of the treaties aimed at reducing strategic nuclear weapons will be in effect. At the same time, it is important to work with triple the effort on creating a non-nuclear missile “sword” and a joint European nuclear shield.

If a new round of the nuclear arms race does begin, Russia will not withstand it and, in its current form, will cease to exist. The collapse of the USSR is clear proof of this.

So, for the participants, all this will end as it began.

And it’s not a fact that it will end in a monastery…

Source

About the author: Valeriy Chaly, Ukrainian diplomat, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the U.S.

The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.