Russia warns of ‘cold peace’ over NATO expansion

Break out your crying towels:

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov warned yesterday that relations between Russia and the West could return to a “cold peace” unless his country’s concerns about the recent expansion were addressed.

“Russia would like to enjoy partnership with the West, primarily the United States, with its eyes wide open, but we are urged to turn a blind eye to unfavourable trends in the world,” Mr. Ivanov said in Washington after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. “We are urged not to notice . . . the buildup of NATO military infrastructure in the states that border us but that have not signed the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. No, there cannot be such partnership.”

Maybe if Russia altered their interest to those of the nations the Soviet Union oppressed, maybe there would be partnership with the Russian Federation. Instead, Russian policy to date has been to sign alliance treaties with China, selling weapons platforms to Iran, technology to Saddam, support of France, etc.

What kills me even more is that they call the Americans the cowboys. And so do the anti-Bush peacemongers at home.