On Dec. 23, the National Security Archive released three declassified documents pertaining to discussions between Presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin, in 2001, 2005, and 2008. The release was the result of a FOIA lawsuit by the National Security Archive. The documents show that there were in-depth discussions between Bush and Putin during his two terms in the White House, and that the Americans had clear knowledge of Russia’s demands for a new post-Cold War relationship. This included very explicit statements by Putin about Russia’s stance on NATO’s expansion, and its absolute red line that Ukraine not be brought into the alliance. It also included Putin requesting permission to join NATO during his 2001 meeting with Bush, saying that “Russia could be an ally” to NATO and the U.S.
In a conversation in June 2001, Putin said (paraphrased from the summary): “Now let me return to NATO enlargement. You know our position. You have made an important statement when you said that Russia is no enemy... Russia is European and multi-ethnic, like the United States. I can imagine us becoming allies. Only dire need could make us allied with others. But we feel left out of NATO. If Russia is not part of this, of course it feels left out. Why is NATO enlargement needed? In 1954, the Soviet Union applied to join NATO. I have the document. NATO gave a negative answer with four specific reasons: the lack of an Austrian settlement, the lack of a German settlement, the totalitarian grip on Eastern Europe, and the need for Russia to cooperate with the UN Disarmament process. Now all these conditions have been met. Perhaps Russia could be an Ally. But the real question is how we associate Russia with the rest of the civilized world. The fact is that NATO is enlarging and we have nothing to say about it.”
Aside from this, Putin was clear that the most important element for Russia was that, “There must be honesty in our relations.”
In an April 2008 conversation, the two presidents spoke further about NATO and US-Russia relations. The meeting took place two days after the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, where it was floated that Ukraine and Georgia could one day become members. Aside from these tensions, Putin was very concerned about the placement of NATO anti-ballistic missile systems in the Czech Republic and Poland. He expressed the fear that the US was strengthening its defensive systems at the expense of Russia, destroying the previous balance of Mutually Assured Destruction which existed during the Cold War. “It’s a matter of trust,” Putin told Bush.
