“These are very dangerous incidents: overflights at the NATO airspace and [NATO’s movement] closer to Russian borders. That’s created a very dangerous war scenario that we all haven’t seen since the Cold War,” he said.
But, he asserted, to revive the partnership, compromises must be reached, and a solution to the ongoing economic meltdown in Ukraine is first on the list.
“The links to the [Minsk II] Accords give us the chance, but nobody’s pushing to get them implemented,” Gardner said. “The US and NATO have to press Ukraine on their side to its part in accepting those accords.”
“[T]his transition period from the American election to re-engaging in international politics is very difficult and creates tensions every time a major election comes about,” he said, adding that now “there’s a chance for fundamental change in American politics.”