NATO chief opens door to restoring Russia relations after Ukraine war. Thoughts?

[Cubus]

Former prime minister of the Netherlands and current NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says that Europe and the United States should eventually normalize relations with Russia although "e are absolutely not there yet" as the condition he states is that for fighting in Ukraine to end.

“It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the U. S., step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia," Rutte said in an interview with Bloomberg

Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-russia-relations-war-in-ukraine-donald-trump/

[WindAtMyBack]

He's stating the obvious.

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of Putin. Like him or not, he's one of the most important leaders in the world, and Russia is one of the most important countries in the world. Normalizing relations with Russia is in everyone's best interest.

Everyone needs to accept reality. Europe wants Russia out of Ukraine. But they go on and on about "No boots on the ground.". "No fliers in the air." "No navy in the Black Sea." In other words, they have never been serious about kicking Russia out of Ukraine.

Putin knows damn well that the west can't stomach long drawn out wars. He knows that all he has to do is wait them out. He knows this because that's what always happens.

Trump understands this reality also. He knows that continuing to do what's been done will accomplish nothing but prolong the stalemate, costing lives until eternity.

What's this stuff about "after" the war? Europe sure as hell ain't trying to win that war. They don't want to give up Ukraine either. So make up their minds and stop fucking around. Haven't they learned from history? It's happened over and over again, but they never learn. Just how do they think the war will end if they don't fight to win, and they don't want to sacrifice Ukraine either?

Remember Richard Nixon? He was president during the height of the Cold War. He opened dialog with "the enemy". It took a while but that eventually led to nuclear disarmament and the reduction of something like 80% of the world's nuclear arsenal. All because two enemies decided to talk.

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of Russia or Putin. What matters is that it's important to open dialog, and maybe even normalize relations.

So many people talk like Trump kisses Putin's ass. Trump doesn't kiss anyone's ass. But he's a world leader, and Putin is another world leader. Talking is what world leaders are supposed to do.

[Spencer10]

If the peace agreement is acceptable to Ukraine after a period of stability and honoring of the agreement opening communication with Russia would increase global security. Its a carrot for Russia to behave.

[OlderAndWiser]

It would help if Putin was beamed up by aliens and never seen again.

[lightbulb27]

not so sure about that, whom is next in command and are they worse?

[BCA6010]

They don't have a choice. This entire time, Europe has been paying a premium under the table for Russian energy, and they refuse to adequately build up their own energy infrastructure to make that unnecessary. This is while also trying to support Ukraine, in many cases with money given to them by the US. Like it or not, they aren't capable of maintaining any sort of hostility, so they have to start kissing ass and hoping for better deals pretty much regardless of what ends up happening with Ukraine.

Funny, our 45th president pointed this out back in 2016-2017ish and got mocked for it. We are approaching a decade since stating the obvious, and France is the only country that has made any effort whatsoever to address it, yet they're also the ones doing the most sabre-rattling.

[Lliam]

We should have normalized relations with Russia after the break up of the Soviet Union instead of expanding NATO to its doorstep.

Hell, Putin even asked if Russia could be part on NATO in 2000.

We forced Russia's hand when we engineered a government take over in Ukraine that was hostile to Russia and not only wanted to become a member of NATO, but to seize Russia's assets in Crimea and the Black Sea.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

RUSSIA'S UNCONDITIONAL CAPITOL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND THE EU AND NATO MUST GO TO THE END OF THEIR POWERS AGAINST DISGUSTING RUSSIA.

ANY OTHER DISAPPOINTMENT IN WHICH RUSSIA ESCAPES THE HARSHEST PUNISHMENTS IN HISTORY AFTER THIS WAR ENDS WILL BE CALLED TREASON!!!

[Syntosi]

No. Restoring Russian relations will not happen after the war. Maybe in like 100-200 years or so but straight after the war? No way.

[Cubus]

How many years after World War II did countries normalise relations with Germany? Americans has been pumping them money for 40 years.

[Syntosi]

That was because Germany lost and they destroyed the government before replacing it with one that was sympathetic to them. The current Russian government is the same government that has shown itself to both be untrustworthy as well as hostile. You can't make friends with that.

[Dargil]

I'd have to think it through more but it sounds reasoned.