The possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and a deterioration into war is currently the focus of attention of the United States and the international community. Even after the virtual meeting held by Presidents Biden and Putin, the tension has not subsided. The buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border is interpreted in the West as preparation for a military attack against Ukraine.
Despite warnings of an imminent invasion, President Putin's intentions are unclear to the West even now. Is the buildup of forces due to a decision that has already been taken to invade Ukraine, or is it primarily intended to provide leverage to advance Russian demands of both Ukraine and the West? In a proposal for an agreement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, there are far-reaching demands for security guarantees – a bilateral agreement with the United States on a mutual promise of security for the two countries and a multilateral agreement with NATO countries.
In response to Russia's steps, the US administration is investing in efforts to deter Moscow from offensive moves. In a conversation with Putin, Biden threatened that the United States would adopt "strong economic measures" and increase military aid to its allies in the region if Russia invaded its neighbor. At the same time, National Security Adviser Sullivan stressed that the American strategy involves close coordination with its allies toward dialogue with Russia for the purpose of de-escalation. Referring to the list of claims that Russia has presented, he noted that the West would set up a counter-list, and the dialogue between the parties will be held on the basis of these lists.
Even if the inter-power tension does not translate into military moves, it seems the crisis between Russia and the West has intensified recently. and its implications require the US administration to devote much attention and resources to it. These developments – and certainly the scenario of military deterioration in Ukraine – require Israel to formulate its policy quickly in this regard. The desire to continue to maintain good relations with Russia may conflict with the demands of the US administration, in particular if a decision is made to increase the sanctions against Russia significantly. Moreover, in light of the expectation that competition between the superpowers will only intensify over the coming year, it is important that Israel already focus on formulating an overall strategy in response.
The possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and a deterioration into war is currently the focus of attention of the United States and the international community. Even after the virtual meeting held by Presidents Biden and Putin, the tension has not subsided. The buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border is interpreted in the West as preparation for a military attack against Ukraine.
Despite warnings of an imminent invasion, President Putin's intentions are unclear to the West even now. Is the buildup of forces due to a decision that has already been taken to invade Ukraine, or is it primarily intended to provide leverage to advance Russian demands of both Ukraine and the West? In a proposal for an agreement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, there are far-reaching demands for security guarantees – a bilateral agreement with the United States on a mutual promise of security for the two countries and a multilateral agreement with NATO countries.
In response to Russia's steps, the US administration is investing in efforts to deter Moscow from offensive moves. In a conversation with Putin, Biden threatened that the United States would adopt "strong economic measures" and increase military aid to its allies in the region if Russia invaded its neighbor. At the same time, National Security Adviser Sullivan stressed that the American strategy involves close coordination with its allies toward dialogue with Russia for the purpose of de-escalation. Referring to the list of claims that Russia has presented, he noted that the West would set up a counter-list, and the dialogue between the parties will be held on the basis of these lists.
Even if the inter-power tension does not translate into military moves, it seems the crisis between Russia and the West has intensified recently. and its implications require the US administration to devote much attention and resources to it. These developments – and certainly the scenario of military deterioration in Ukraine – require Israel to formulate its policy quickly in this regard. The desire to continue to maintain good relations with Russia may conflict with the demands of the US administration, in particular if a decision is made to increase the sanctions against Russia significantly. Moreover, in light of the expectation that competition between the superpowers will only intensify over the coming year, it is important that Israel already focus on formulating an overall strategy in response.