– I believe that Russian reactions are very often dismissed as aimed at dividing the West or as aimed at Russian public opinion. Both parts are probably correct, but then comes a third part that is important, former diplomat and NATO ambassador Kai Eide tells Dagsavisen.

The third part is simply how Russia thinks.

– For several decades, we have been in the habit of trying to introduce ourselves to Russian thought. Don’t accept it; understanding does not mean accepting. It is important. In the situation in which we currently find ourselves, I believe that we must both be able to take moral indignation at the way Russia is proceeding and to distance ourselves from its policy, while trying to analyze what it could do in as the next step, says Eide.

On Thursday, he was a guest on Dagsnytt18 on NRK. There, among other things, he spoke out against the recent discussion in Norway about the Russian statements. What is said is taken too lightly, he believes.

Hard

This week, Russia once again got tough on Western countries, after Germany and the United States decided on Wednesday to send tanks to Ukraine.

– European countries and the United States constantly state that sending various types of weapons, including tanks, in no way means that they are involved in hostilities. We strongly disagree with that, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to NTB.

– In Russia, this is seen as direct interference in the conflict, which we see growing in scale, Peskov continued.

Several other countries also followed the US and Germany with their own tank announcements, including Norway. The debate in Norway has centered on arms aid, and the experts Dagsavisen spoke to pondered what might be driving the Russian reactions.

After prolonged pressure and debate both internally and among allies, it became clear on Wednesday that Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. They will also allow other countries to do so, a government spokesman said. Germany has long refused to send these tanks to Ukraine, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among other things, justified the opposition by saying that they did not want to aggravate the war. Nuclear escalation in particular was mentioned.

[ – Ingen ønsker å gi seg. Derfor kommer krigen til å vare lenge ]

– Sub-release

Kai Eide underlines Friday that the Russian reactions are linked, among other things, to the geopolitical situation in which they perceive themselves. This concerns both the development in the Baltic Sea and the possible loss of naval bases in the Black Sea.

– Then it is not possible to dismiss it so easily.

He believes that the analyzes do not go far enough if the Russian reactions are dismissed as something only intended to divide the West or influence its own public opinion.

– I believe that any political action must have this as a backdrop. Then we have to make our decisions. It is clear that we strongly dislike Russia’s behavior, and for good reason, but that does not prevent us from having to try to deepen the analysis.

When asked if Eide thinks Norway, allies and military experts haven’t gone into their analysis, he says he can’t get into their brains.

– But in any case it is under-communicated. I say this not to scare people, but because it is an important part of a debate. I am interested in an open and realistic debate. I believe that we must both be able to support Ukraine and feel anger at what Russia is doing, and at the same time have a sober debate on the strategic prospects.

Eide says there is no doubt that it has become more difficult to try to see and explain the situation as Russia sees it. He feels that people who are more concerned with the breadth of perspective are under a lot of pressure.

[ Tyskland vil sende stridsvogner til Ukraina: – En ny æra ]

Lack of skill

Over time, Eide grew concerned that Norwegian experts, he believed, were no longer so eager to learn about the Russian mindset.

When you find yourself in a situation like this, he believes that it is therefore easier to use more moralizing arguments towards the opposing party. As if you don’t understand the suffering or what Ukrainians are going through.

– I find that worrying. We must dare to have a global debate, which also includes difficult and disturbing things. I’m not saying it should always guide our decisions, but I think it’s important that we better communicate broader thinking to public opinion, says Eide, who says he’s constantly contacted by people he doesn’t know. not, who say they miss that part of the debate.

– What do you fear might be the outcome?

– It is clear that this can lead to erroneous assessments. It can never be eliminated, but we have to be prepared for the fact that there are many parties here who make their decisions from very different perspectives. This is my concern.

[ Ekspert: Dette kan stridsvognene bety for Ukraina ]

[ Ukraina: Ni av ti risikerer fattigdom ]

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