Studio guest Alexander Domrin, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann, the Founder and President of World Security Network Foundation and the participant of the Munich Conference, Andrei Kortunov, General Director, Russian Council for International Relations and the participant of the Munich Conference.
Alexander Domrin: Ukraine is a sick man of Europe right now. And I believe that this is one of those most important details that should be addressed at the conference. At the same time, we need to be realists. We should understand that Munich is not the best place to discuss these kinds of things, but what the better places are? We need to deal with what we have. And, of course, nobody needs this new war in Europe. Well, frankly, somebody needs kind of a war in the center of Europe, but there are a lot of sober and smart minds who are trying to do their best to normalize the situation.
Some experts say that, probably, one of the reasons that made the leaders of France and Germany rush to Moscow was the notion that President Obama will come up with the arms supplies to Ukraine. What is the role of Washington here?
Alexander Domrin: The sanctions were imposed by the US on Russia first. At the same time, it was an attempt to destabilize the situation in Europe overall. And, as I understand, there is a growing feeling in Europe that it is becoming kind of a hostage of a very hostile US policy not only against Russia, but also against a number of European countries.
Can the arms supplies come as a game changer?
Alexander Domrin: During the recent visit of the Secretary of State Kerry to Ukraine, he was not clear regarding the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. But it was kind of part of the scenario. And Europe in this respect doesn’t need to have a new war.
What do you think is behind the US strategy?
Alexander Domrin: This is a very long-term plan on behalf of the US, an attempt to weaken not only Russia, but also to weaken Europe. And, of course, nobody cares about Ukraine in the US, Ukraine is only a tool.
It is interesting that you’ve mentioned hostage and Ukraine being used as a tool, because, shifting gears a bit to the other hotspot, it almost seems like Syria doesn’t matter either, it is almost a tool as well. Or if we look at the South China Sea and these islands that most Americans can’t even pronounce, let alone pinpoint on a map, are also being used as tools just o destabilize China. So, what is your take on that? Is America kind of copying and pasting a similar approach worldwide?
Alexander Domrin: I'm afraid that’s just another mistake that the US is doing right now. At least, some of my friends believe that the Americans know what they are doing. I'm afraid that very often they make mistakes. Take a look at how Al Qaeda was created. Take a look at how ISIS was created. And eventually, I'm afraid that Europe would need to build a wall.
To what extent do you think it was impactful?
Andrei Kortunov: The conference is supposed to be a mechanism if not to resolve problems, but to at least bridge the gaps between the participants. People come to the Munich conference not only to participate in a public event, but also to have some backstage consultations, to have informal discussions, maybe, even with the opponents. So, I think that the public agenda of the conference is likely to be just a tip of an iceberg, and the iceberg itself is much bigger, and, probably, this second layer of the conference will generate progress which we would fail to notice, for some time at least.
What is your take on the Munich conference?
Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann: I have been at least ten times now at the Munich security conference. It’s got a fresh approach. The flaw with all these conferences is always the same – people meet, they know each other, they complain about the situation, but nobody comes up with the plan. I think we have to change that style everywhere. It is not a matter of Germany or Munich, it is everywhere, including Russia. I think everybody from our side have to make fresh creative proposals. I'm a businessman and I get more and more frustrated about how the old-style conservatives, our defense and foreign affairs establishment is dealing in this globalised world. There is not enough creativity, no good planning and we get deeper and deeper into this swamp.
I can definitely tell you that we can find a good way out and the reset button between the West and Russia. And it is all in our interest. If we look at what is going on with ISIS in Iraq and Syria with 30 000 mad people fighting, we have 600 crazy and frustrated young guys fighting there. If just 10% gets crazy here, what we have seen, as you remember, in Paris, then we are in trouble. This craziness is our enemy. And on the political side, I think that even if we have a problem like in Ukraine now, it is in our interests to set the priorities and to come together to find a common ground.
