NATO, U.S. must make compromises | Letter to the editor

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While the U.S. and the world condemn Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the shelling of civilians, the destruction of homes and hospitals, and threats of nuclear attacks, the major role the U.S. has played that led up to Russia’s invasion must be considered:• Breaking promises not to expand NATO into Eastern Europe;
• Placing offensive missiles in Romania and Poland that could reach Russia in minutes;
• Continuing to “modernize” the U.S. nuclear arsenal; and
• Withdrawing from key nuclear weapons treaties.
For this war to end, Russia must withdraw its troops and commit to respecting the sovereignty of Ukraine and the right of self-governance of its neighboring nations.


NATO and the U.S. must also agree to make compromises and support negotiations between Ukraine and Russia:
• Continue to reject a no-fly zone over Ukraine;
• Encourage Ukraine to be a neutral country;
• Define a clear path for sanctions on Russia to be lifted;
• Reduce NATO and U.S. military posture in Europe in exchange for Russian guarantees to respect the right of self-governance of its neighboring nations;
• Renegotiate lapsed nuclear arms treaties; and
• Shrink military spending by all countries and redirect those funds to address the climate crisis.


In order to figure out what to think about a path to peace in the Ukraine, I studied statements by Veterans For Peace, Code Pink and the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization.


Douglas Milholland
PORT TOWNSEND