The alarming situation in the Black Sea region, on the border of Belarus with Poland, in Ukraine forced both politicians and political scientists to speak out.
The KP.ru website asked Vyacheslav Nikonov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, for a comment.
– Vyacheslav Alekseevich! This is the kind of thought that can be traced in the West now: if Russia “goes to war” against Ukraine, then the United States “will not refrain from a nuclear strike” on Russia?
– There is constant pressure on our country – psychological, informational, military. The activity of the NATO armed forces on our borders is increasing. This is nothing new, it has been going on for several years. But recently, some of the taboos that were previously observed in the Western media, including the discussion of the possibility of a nuclear war, have been removed. And they become completely commonplace for the Western consciousness.
– How do we react?
– We often “fall for” the rhetoric that comes from the western side. And in many respects, shaping our internal information agenda, we start from the Western information agenda. Instead of forming our own … We are forced to discuss some topics that have no serious basis. But they are aimed at implementing the Western foreign policy propaganda line. In these conditions, we just need to work out our agenda.
– And what should be our agenda?
– Our agenda has always been peaceful. And constructive. We are in favor of solving any problems at the negotiating table. This is what the western side is not striving for now. Which, in my opinion, has already lost the habit of talking about anything at all, but is used to giving orders, talking about what Russia should do. And don’t have any constructive conversations.
– I was little when the Cuban missile crisis unfolded. Only later did I learn how dangerous it all was. Now – what is happening, in particular, in the Black Sea – does not look like the events of October 1962?
– The concentration of thoughts now is much more than during the Cuban missile crisis. Then these questions were, to a large extent, under the rug. And it was difficult to judge the severity of the situation when reading the newspapers at that time.
Media tensions are much stronger today than during the Cuban missile crisis.
Moreover, hundreds of our ships then transported a large number of intermediate and shorter-range missiles to Cuba. And there the conflict could flare up at any second. It was a confrontation when nuclear weapons were already on alert. Now, such large-scale confrontations are out of the question.
– What are your predictions for the coming months?
– I expect that the escalation and escalation in Russia’s relations with the West will continue. They believe that one can speak with us only in the language of power. But no one there is interested in a serious military confrontation, especially in a nuclear one.
– Perhaps at the beginning of next year there will be a meeting between Putin and Biden. After Geneva, it became warmer in our relations, there was room for optimism. How now?
– A possible meeting between Putin and Biden can bring a positive result for the development of bilateral relations, relations between Russia and the West in general.
– That is, in principle, on the one hand, tension will be escalated, on the other, the United States and Russia will try to somehow contain it?
– I do not think that the United States will try to somehow restrain it. On the contrary, the United States is behind this escalation, believing that it is promising to speak with Russia only from a position of strength. And they will create this position of power all the time. It is naive to hope that someone in the United States will think about how to make our life easier. America sets the goal of global domination. Russia is an obstacle on their way. They will think about how to weaken us. But at the same time – not to get involved in any serious military confrontation.
– And the Ukrainian situation?
– Well, Russia, I think, is showing much more restraint now than, perhaps, it should. But for the United States, Ukraine is the main striking instrument used against our country. The Americans will strengthen Ukraine in this capacity, of course, which is counterproductive for its development as a state. And for the interests of the people of Ukraine.
– That is, the situation with the onset of frost in Russia, and in Ukraine, and in the United States will remain in such a frozen state – it will not get warmer?
– The situation in Ukraine will definitely not get warmer. I see no prerequisites for this. And not the slightest desire – from the American, first of all, the side. They are interested in maximum tension in relations between Kiev and Moscow.
– But are we doing everything right?
– Naturally, in order to make adequate decisions in this situation, one must have all the completeness of information. Of course, the President of the Russian Federation possesses it.
– Are you adding optimism on purpose? Or is it really such a feeling?
– I have no serious anxiety, to be honest, because I understand perfectly well that in the United States, even in the depths of the deep state that governs the country, there are no suicides. And no one there wants a really open military confrontation with Russia.