Leaving Russia out in the cold was never a good idea

Yesterday's Irish Times carried an excellent opinion piece by Conor O'Clery, who is a former Irish Times Moscow correspondent.

Below is a quote from the article.

"Taking advantage of a defeated foe's weakness has unfortunate historic outcomes. After the first World War, the Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of territory and people. National resentment eventually translated into aggression and militarism and the second World War.

"The 'defeat' of the Soviet Union in the cold war stripped Russia of territory and people. The perceived rebuffs, loss of face and indignities that followed led to the emergence of a combative nationalism, personified by Vladimir Putin."

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said at a conference in Berlin two weeks ago that euphoria and triumphalism went to the heads of western leaders and what was once a blister has now turned into a bloody festering wound.