Crisis Trigger: NATO Reneged on Promise
When the Soviet Union disintegrated, Russia inherited its “one-vote veto” status on the UN Security Council, as well as most of the Soviet territory, overseas assets and debts. At the same time, Russia was also left with the great power and historical leanings of the former state, as well as the promises, grievances and hatreds surrounding the dissolution.
Among these, NATO’s eastward expansion may have been the most jolting for Russia.
In the eyes of President Vladimir Putin and other Russian political elites, the West has reneged on promises made before the Soviet Union’s disintegration. Instead, it has, for the past three decades, continually been hemming in Russia’s strategic security space. This is not only a result of U.S. and NATO arrogance, but also marks a
