In 1993, Zbigniew Brzezinski (National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter in 1977–1981) noted that “Without Ukraine, Russia cannot struggle for imperial status and will ultimately be defeated and subjugated…”

In his view, “Ukraine can be in Europe without Russia,” but “Russia cannot be in Europe without Ukraine.”

“Without the territory of Ukraine, Russia will be pushed back more than 1,000 km to the east, with the loss of a powerful industrial base and fertile agricultural lands, as well as 52 million citizens (as of 1991), about 75% of whom are Russian-speaking.

That is why,” Brzezinski asserted, “the United States must do everything in its power to prevent Russia from establishing ties with Ukraine — a country with enormous resources, access to the Black Sea, and a strategic naval base in Sevastopol…”

@Mikle1On