Correspondence between Putin and Bush Shows Putin Wanted Trust, Friendship with West, and Warned of NATO Expansion

Dec. 27—The National Security Archive released three declassified documents Dec. 23 pertaining to discussions between President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in 2001, 2005, and 2008. The release was the result of a FOIA lawsuit by the National Security Archive. The documents show that there were in-depth discussions between Bush and Putin during his two terms in the White House, and that the American had clear knowledge of Russia’s demands for a new post-Cold War relationship. This included very explicit statements by Putin about Russia’s stance on NATO’s expansion, and its absolute red line that Ukraine could never be brought into the alliance. It also included Putin requesting permission to join NATO during his 2001 meeting with Bush, saying that “Russia could be an ally” to NATO and the U.S.

In a conversation in June 2001, Putin said (paraphrased from the summary): “Now let me return to NATO enlargement. You know our position. You have made an important statement when you said that Russia is no enemy…. Russia is European and multi-ethnic, like the United States. I can imagine us becoming allies. Only dire need could make us allied with others. But we feel left out of NATO. If Russia is not part of this, of course it feels left out. Why is NATO enlargement needed? In 1954, the Soviet Union applied to join NATO. I have the document. NATO gave a negative answer with four specific reasons: the lack of an Austrian settlement, the lack of a German settlement, the totalitarian grip on Eastern Europe, and the need for Russia to cooperate with the UN Disarmament process. Now all these conditions have been met. Perhaps Russia could be an Ally. But the real question is how we associate Russia with the rest of the civilized world. The fact is that NATO is enlarging and we have nothing to say about it.”

Aside from this, Putin was clear that the most important element for Russia was that, “There must be honesty in our relations.”

NATO Must Not Expand Eastward

In an April 2008 conversation, the two Presidents spoke further about NATO and U.S.-Russia relations. The meeting took place two days after the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, where it was floated that Ukraine and Georgia could one day become members. Aside from these tensions, Putin was very concerned about the placement of NATO anti-ballistic missile systems in the Czech Republic and Poland. He expressed the fear that the U.S. was strengthening its defensive systems at the expense of Russia, destroying the previous balance of Mutually Assured Destruction which existed during the Cold War. “It’s a matter of trust,” Putin told Bush.

On NATO, however, he had the following very clear message to Bush: “Now I’d like to repeat what I said to Condi [Rice] and [Bill] Gates in Moscow on NATO enlargement. It won’t be new to you, and I don’t expect a response; I just want to say it out loud. I’d like to emphasize accession to NATO of a country like Ukraine will create for the long-term a field of conflict for you and us, long-term confrontation.” He also raised the case of Georgia. “And for Russia there is always the threat of new military bases and weapon systems in the proximity of our borders. This is pretty much our argumentation against this development.” Despite his warning, Putin nonetheless noted that, “I do not rule out that Russia-NATO relations could improve in the future, along with U.S.-Russia relations.”

To his credit, Bush acknowledged Putin’s concerns, telling Putin, “I fully understand what you said on NATO. Your logic is very clear.” Bush also seemed intent on creating better relations between the U.S. and Russia, stating: “We need to work something out while we have an open relationship, so the next ones don’t overreact…. We’re setting the stage for creating the conditions that will cause people to work in the framework we’ve set up. There needs to be a path forward for better relations with Russia.” He openly worried, “I don’t want a U.S. President to come along and say we don’t need relations with Russia. I think we do.”

Russia Is Part of the West

Bush also told Putin, “Russia belongs to the West; it is not an enemy.” Yet, in the same breath, he likely expressed the geopolitical view of his handlers, adding: “In 50-years, China could become a big problem. Russia’ s interests lie with the West. And you should be like the West: rule of law, entrepreneurship, freedom of the press. You have made some good choices, like the fiat tax law and hope you keep it up.”

This was and has been a view of a section of the Western elite. It was expressed by no less a personage than Lord Bertrand Russell in the mid 1950s, when during the height of the Cold War he told a television interviewer that the West must never forget that Russia (then the Soviet Union) must now be pushed eastward towards an alliance with pagan devils in China. Russia, he said, is a white nation and has a natural affinity towards western, white civilization. They must be reminded of this, and encouraged by us to join the fight against the asian masses, including those peoples trapped inside the Soviet Union.

Though there are many details and nuances of the documents and the history they tell, it’s undeniable that U.S. leadership knew of Russia’s intentions and its red lines, and knows they haven’t changed at all since these remarks were made 20 years ago. Up until President Donald Trump, they have been intentionally ignored, enabling support by the Biden administration for a proxy war in Ukraine, in an attempt to destroy Russia.