Karaganov’s Thoughtful Assessment of Europe Shows the World What Russian Guards Think
Yves here. As many eyes, including mine, are watching the devastation of the global economy in the Strait of Hormuz, tensions are rising between Europe and Russia as Russia advances in Ukraine and the US begins to withdraw its security blanket. Just because the Europeans are weak doesn’t mean they can’t do damage, if nothing else through terrorism. So the concerns of hardliners like Karaganov are well founded.
Remember that Russia has issued a threat that if Ukraine strikes at the Victory Day parade in Moscow, it will attack the center of Kiev with a heavy blow, something that Putin has avoided doing because of the casualties and the destruction of important historical buildings. Russia has told citizens and foreign diplomats to leave Kiev. If Ukraine continues and Russia flattens the Kiev administrative center, the hysteria in Europe’s capital will be off the charts.
By Andrew Korybko, an American political analyst based in Moscow who focuses on the transition of the global system to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Originally published on his website
Observers, especially Western officials, should know their opinions as one of them may replace Putin one day.
RT shared a recent interview with the main Russian expert Sergey Karaganov, (famous) for persuading Putin to nuke Europe, which he gave to Russia 24. As explained here at the beginning of the year, Putin chooses to follow the advice of Karganov’s de facto rival, Timofei Bordachev, who advocates reaching the risk of destroying World War III. Nevertheless, Karaganov’s candid assessment of Europe shows the world what Russian hardliners think, which is instructive.
He reiterated his call for Russia to withdraw from Europe in order to avoid what he believes will be a hot war between them that risks becoming a major nuclear war if not prevented. To that end, he has asked Putin to appoint a commander-in-chief in the theater of war against Europe, who will attack it first with conventional arms and move to a limited nuclear war if it does not surrender. In his words, “Forget the nonsense that nuclear war cannot be won, it can be won.”
According to Karaganov, “We have forgotten that Europe is the embodiment of all the greatest evils of humanity: colonialism, bigotry, the worst ideas, and genocide throughout the world. Not only the genocide of the Jews and the Russians, the Soviets, but in Africa, India, and the whole world, the people and the whole world that we must understand. and if we cannot separate ourselves, it must be destroyed.
He explained that “now the Europeans are being turned into German fascists. That’s why we need to stop them before they get into a big, really big war. They are fighting us… In that article, Karaganov also suggested that some of his fellow Russians should be treated harshly, especially those he believes are working under European influence.
“Under the current conditions, pro-European sentiments are a sign of mental weakness, moral corruption and rebellion. “Vlasovism.” We must treat people who try to negotiate with Europe and in this way. They must be removed, by soft means where possible, from our minds and from our positions. And if soft methods fail, then strong measures will be used. ” This seems to be a swipe at Kirill Dmitriev, negotiator with the US, but with the consent of Putin.
Even so, it would be wrong to describe Karaganov as “anti-Putin” since they are friends and he even moderated a Q&A session with him in St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024. So the most accurate description is that he is a constructive critic, but he won’t directly criticize Putin because of his patriotism, a reasonable concern that a countervailing force might be used. For that reason, he only makes indirect criticism, such as his swipe at Putin’s ambassador Dmitriev.
Karaganov is the leader of Russia’s hardline party, so his views should be taken as reflecting theirs. Observers, especially Western officials, should know about them because one of them may replace Putin one day. That will make it very difficult to reach an agreement with Russia on Ukraine if the special operations are not ended by then. So they should compromise with Russia now while Putin is still in power instead of risking a bad situation if someone tougher replaces him.
