Brzezinski: Ukraine in NATO could cause more harm than good

Zbigniew Brzezinski: photo - prezydent.pl

In an interview with Polish Radio in Washington, Brzezinski argued that Ukraine's membership of the organisation could worsen the current crisis with Russia.

''A limited conflict may be more beneficial for Russia than for us, because it could cause the complete collapse of the Ukrainian economy and its democratic system,'' Brzezinski reflected.

''What in such circumstances would membership in NATO give Ukraine and what would this presence give us?

''One should consider such matters and not be guided by sentiment or sympathy for Ukraine,'' he added, while acknowledging that he himself has had a sentimental attachment to Ukraine since childhood.

Brzezinski argued that Ukrainians themselves are deeply divided about membership.

In August, Ukraine's prime minister Arseny Yatsenyuk first declared that the country should seek to join NATO.

In late November, Russia made a clear statement on Ukraine's prospective membership.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the BBC that Russia wanted "a 100% guarantee that no-one would think about Ukraine joining NATO."

Polish-born Brzezinski, who served under President Jimmy Carter from 1977-1981, made the remarks at a Washington conference devoted to Jan Nowak, a Polish WWII courier who later led the Polish Section of Radio Free Europe. (nh)