ROME, October 16. /TASS/. Ukraine's neutrality and the non-expansion of NATO may be the only guarantees of security for Ukraine, Russia, and Europe, and it is time for the European Union to realize this, US economist and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University (New York), Professor Jeffrey Sachs said.
"I say to sit down with Russia to negotiate inclusive security for Europe. This is what's needed. This whole war came about because of the NATO enlargement. It's time that the NATO enlargement stop and that we return to the concept of inclusive security. Ukraine will be neutral. Russia, Ukraine, Europe will be secure. No war. This is straightforward. This is what we need to do," he told TASS at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is hosting a plenary session on World Food Day.
He stressed that peace is possible only when the idea of NATO enlargement is dropped. "And on that basis we can have security because that was the promise in 1990. That is the promise unfortunately the US and Europe broke. It is the basis for returning to peace," he said.
Regarding the issue of who could represent Europe in potential talks, Sachs noted, "I could say the main point is not who. The main point is the concept." "End the wars, stop the militarization, inclusive security," he stressed. "Peace means that everybody wins by shared security. That's what we need is peace."
Addressing the FAO plenary session, Sachs stressed that rearming is not what Europe needs as it cannot bring about peace. He stated that all wars can be ended politically, through diplomacy and talks.