Home / Authors / Zbigniew Brzezinski

Zbigniew Brzezinski

Zbigniew Brzezinski Quotes

Former National Security Advisor

Zbigniew Brzezinski was a Polish-American political scientist and diplomat who served as the United States National Security Advisor under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981. He is known for his influential role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and his advocacy for a multi-polar world.

Filter quotes by topic

All World People America Thinking Ifs States War Russia United States Policy Political United Country Problem Today Europe Important President Security Economic

Famous Zbigniew Brzezinski Quotes

“Russia's only real geostrategic option - the option that would give Russia a realistic international role and also maximize the opportunity of transforming and socially modernizing itself - is Europe.”

Giving Real Opportunity Roles Europe International Russia Realistic Transforming

Book:The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

Source: The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

“The key point to bear in mind is that Russia cannot be in Europe without Ukraine also being in Europe, whereas Ukraine can be in Europe without Russia being in Europe.”

Mind Keys Bears Europe Russia Ukraine

Book:The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

Source: The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

“In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the Euro-Atlantic community. Because if it isn't, then it's going to find itself essentially facing China all by itself, facing the Euro-Atlantic community all by itself.”

Ifs Thinking Happens Running Choices Community China Russia Euro

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“With its declining population, with people moving out of the Far East, with an enormously powerful China in the east, I think the real destiny of Russia is to become closer to the West.”

People Thinking Real Moving Powerful Destiny West Population China East Russia Moving Out

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“I happen to think that as the Ukraine moves to the West, towards the E.U., eventually towards NATO, it will pave the way also for Russia moving towards the West. Because it will become a logical extension of the same process, and it will eliminate any imperial ambitions.”

Thinking Way Happens Moving Process Ambition West Russia Logical Extensions Ukraine Nato

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“Without Ukraine, Russia's imperial aspirations are essentially nostalgia, but it's not a real policy.”

Real Policy Nostalgia Russia Aspiration Ukraine

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“I think if NATO haven't expanded, we would have a no-man's zone between the E.U. and NATO and Russia, and that would be very dangerous.”

Ifs Thinking Men Would Be Dangerous Havens Russia Zone Nato

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“I can't believe that the Russians really think they're more insecure because Estonia is in NATO. And we don't have forces poised in Estonia to attack Russia.”

Thinking Believe I Can Force Russia Insecure Nato Estonia

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“The Eastern Europeans invested too many of their hopes in the notion that somehow or other the missile shield, even if directed at Iran, would reinforce their security links with the U.S. vis-à-vis Russia.”

Ifs Security Notion Russia Iran Links Eastern Shields Missiles

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“Moreover, they [the Central Asian Republics] are of importance from the standpoint of security and historical ambitions to at least three of their most immediate and more powerful neighbors, namely Russia, Turkey and Iran, with China also signaling an increasing political interest in the region. But the Eurasian Balkans are infinitely more important as a potential economic prize: an enormous concentration of natural gas and oil reserves is located in the region, in addition to important minerals, including gold.”

“Ukraine, a new and important space on the Eurasian chessboard, is a geopolitical pivot because its very existence as an independent country helps to transform Russia. Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be a Eurasian empire.”

Important Country Helping Space Existence Independent Russia Cease Empires Ukraine Geopolitical Independent Country

Book:The Grand Chessboard

Source: The Grand Chessboard

“However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black Sea, Russia automatically again regains the wherewithal to become a powerful imperial state, spanning Europe and Asia.”

People Ifs Wells States Black Powerful Millions Sea Majors Resources Europe Access Russia Asia Ukraine Moscow

Book:The Grand Chessboard

Source: The Grand Chessboard

“But if Russia is to be part of this larger zone of peace it cannot bring into it its imperial baggage. It cannot bring into it a policy of genocide against the Chechens, and cannot kill journalists, and it cannot repress the mass media.”

Ifs Media Policy Mass Russia Journalist Zone Genocide Baggage Mass Media

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

“Russia can be either an empire or a democracy, but it cannot be both. . . . Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an empire, but with Ukraine suborned and then subordinated, Russia automatically becomes an empire.”

Democracy Russia Cease Empires Ukraine

Author:Zbigniew Brzezinski

About the Author

Born: March 28, 1928
Known for: Former National Security Advisor
Quotes: 155

Related Topics

World People America Thinking Ifs States War Russia United States Policy Political United Country Problem Today Europe Important President Security Economic

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic ImperativesRelated source material

The Grand ChessboardRelated source material

Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global PowerRelated source material

Similar Authors

Vladimir PutinBrowse related quotes
Condoleezza RiceBrowse related quotes
Barack ObamaBrowse related quotes
Daniel FriedBrowse related quotes
John F. KerryBrowse related quotes
Noam ChomskyBrowse related quotes
John McCainBrowse related quotes
Mitt RomneyBrowse related quotes
Mikhail GorbachevBrowse related quotes
Marco RubioBrowse related quotes