West must understand Russian fears: former British military chief

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is concerned about states surrounding Russia joining NATO and the European Union, General Sir Mike Jackson wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"The 'Near Abroad' – the countries bordering Russia – are strategically vital to its security," said Jackson, who commanded the NATO-led KFOR troops in Kosovo and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina.

"Rightly or wrongly, Russia sees this as a zero-sum game: Putin has criticised Western leaders for being still locked into a Cold War mentality, but the reverse also seems to be true – at least in part."

In Kosovo, "NATO relied for its justification on the emerging doctrine in international law that the prevention of humanitarian disaster – of ethnic cleansing – being perpetrated by a government on its own people can be more important than sovereignty itself.

"Whether we like it or not, this is precisely the justification advanced by Moscow for its intervention in Georgia," said Jackson, who headed Britain's armed forces from 2003 to 2006.

The problems arising from minority enclaves in Georgia, such as South Ossetia or Abkhazia are fundamentally political, rather than purely military, he wrote.

"Putin is determined to rebuild Russia's stature, and he is being much helped in this by the surge in energy prices.

"There is also evidence that after a decade and more of decline, the Russian armed forces are starting to rebuild and modernise.

"For me, the right course for the West – without compromising its own position and values – is to show a greater understanding of why Russia behaves as it does, to accept more willingly Russia's concerns for its Near Abroad.

"While there are actions that we cannot condone, Russian perceptions exist and will take time to change.

"This is the challenge for politicians and diplomats: strategic military hostility and confrontation must remain a thing of the past."