Sergey Karaganov, Honorary Chairman of Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and academic supervisor at the School of International Economics and Foreign Affairs Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, issued a long article in “Russia In Global Affairs” which was excerpted in RT Tuesday under the title “Fear is the only thing the EU understands.” Karaganov has openly proposed that Russia should use a nuclear weapon in Europe as a necessary step to stop the EU’s war drive. Putin responded directly to him at the time, rejecting the proposal, saying that Russia must try to find a peaceful resolution. Nonetheless, Karaganov has a substantial position and has a substantial following within Russia.
In the new article, Karaganov argues that the current extreme strategic crisis is due to a “lack of determination to employ active nuclear deterrence. This is the only mechanism capable of resolving the ‘European problem,’ which has once again become an existential threat to our country.” He argues that the war in Ukraine has restored patriotism and a dedication to development in Russia, while also leading to the decline of what he calls the “comprador class,” ("we have seriously weakened the position of the comprador bourgeoisie and its Western-educated allies"). He says that the European drive for war was stalled by the return of Crimea and the intervention in Syria, but that Russia then “relaxed.” “Had an ultimatum on NATO expansion been issued in 2018–2020 and backed by credible nuclear deterrence, the current war might have been avoided.”
