This week, President Joe Biden travels to Brussels for an emergency NATO summit, followed by a European Council meeting and then a meeting with Poland President Andrzej Duda. This trip is part of an effort to align NATO partners and allies in responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent humanitarian crisis.
Michael John Williams
Reporters looking for expert insight on the meetings, please see comments from Syracuse University Associate Professor Michael John Williams. Williams, who also serves as the Director of the International Relations Program at the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, is a researcher on Europe and Russia and has published extensively about NATO, war, and technology.
Last week, Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his country would formally submit a proposal for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the NATO summit. Williams had this reaction:
“I don’t see NATO creating a peace keeping force – that would be too much for Russia. If anything happens, you’ll see Russia pull out and Ukraine be armed and sovereign without NATO troops,” said Williams. “But I don’t think we’ll see much change this week.”
“As for the conflict, I imagine the Kremlin is surprised at how the mission has been and are probably frustrated with the slow pace of operations,” said Williams. “The Biden Administration and allies in Europe are wondering how they can keep supporting Ukraine without causing the conflict to erupt into a wider one that would engulf the region. Containment is the watchword this week.”
Williams is the author of “The Good War: NATO and the Liberal Conscience in Afghanistan” and
“NATO, Risk and Security Management: From Kosovo to Kandahar.” Williams is currently completing a textbook on international security for Cambridge University Press and preparing for another project examining the concept of the citizen soldier. You can visit Williams’ personal website for more information and a complete background.
To schedule an interview, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, executive director of media relations, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu or at 412-496-0551
