The warnings that Russia might test a limited incursion into NATO territory in the near future are “probably planted there for us by the Russians,” says Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO — designed to scare the West out of arming Ukraine.
In this interview with Independence Avenue Media, Volker — who also served as President Donald Trump’s special representative for Ukraine negotiations — argues the correct response is the opposite of caution: an air-defense “exclusion zone” coordinated with Kyiv that would let NATO shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, and standing authority for commanders to respond to territorial violations without waiting for a political decision.
Volker also predicts Trump’s walked-back Patriot production license for Ukraine “will end up being a yes,” explains why he would send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, and says the U.S. munitions crisis was caused by “careless” use of weapons in the Iran war — carelessness that Tehran has now turned into leverage. Looking past the midterms, he expects Washington to move toward confronting the Iranian regime itself.
Volker, who also served as U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations during Trump’s first term, is a member of the Independence Avenue Media board.
