Henry Kissinger on Putin

Henry Kissinger's position on Vladimir Putin has been characterized by a long-standing strategic view that sought to integrate Russia into a stable international order, balancing relations with both Moscow and China. His core stance, even after Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, was to avoid the permanent, fundamental antagonism of Russia from the global system, believing this path was dangerous for long-term stability. He urged the West to establish a diplomatic framework for Ukraine that could be acceptable to Russia, even suggesting that permanently weakening Russia militarily or isolating it would be counterproductive to global equilibrium.

This approach evolved from his Cold War diplomacy of détente but adapted to the post-Soviet reality, where he viewed Putin as a pragmatic, albeit formidable, actor whose actions stemmed from perceived existential threats to Russian security. While condemning the 2022 invasion, the former Secretary of State stressed the need for a concluding settlement that could lead to a post-conflict European structure, suggesting that a pathway for Russia's eventual return to the diplomatic process must be maintained. He consistently emphasized the necessity of pursuing a West that included Russia in some capacity, rather than one actively working to destroy Putin's regime.