In response to the highly provocative statements made by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to strategic regions. Against the backdrop of Medvedev’s threats, Trump declared that the United States is fully prepared for a potential nuclear war with Russia.
It appears that diplomacy in the Russia–Ukraine war has reached a dead end. Russia is not retreating from the territories it has occupied and continues launching new attacks on Ukraine. President Putin is once again promoting the peace terms of 2014, while Ukraine remains committed to resisting Russian aggression. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Europe continue to rearm Ukraine.
Paul Goble, a former advisor on nationalities in the Soviet Union and an expert on ethnic and religious issues in Eurasia, responded to several questions from Globalinfo.az regarding Russia’s regional policy.
Here is the interview:
– As the resistance in the Ukraine war and the broader confrontation between the West and Russia continues with uncertainty, the conflict could also lead to significant changes in the world order. What does the course of the war in Ukraine promise for both sides and for the world in general?
– How the war in Ukraine ends will determine many things. If Ukraine can continue resisting and fighting Russia to a draw, it will limit the use of aggressive force by Putin and others, and the situation may stabilize for a time. But if Russia manages to seize a large part of Ukraine and gains international recognition for its actions, the opposite outcome will likely unfold tragically.
– In response to threats from Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of American nuclear submarines closer to Russia. How will the U.S.–Russia confrontation evolve from here?
– The redeployment of submarines is an old and tested method of sending signals—whether of displeasure or support. This rarely brings results on its own and is therefore not often a turning point.
– Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan persist. Is there a possibility for these tensions to be resolved? In your opinion, what regional and global factors influence the normalization of relations? And what political and economic levers exist for solving the problem?
– I expect the current level of tension to decrease. However, a fundamental change in Moscow–Baku relations is unlikely in the near future. President Aliyev responded to Russia’s bad behavior because he understands that the world is no longer what it was three years ago.
Translated from Globalinfo.az
