The Hard Truth: What NATO Had Really Promised Moscow About Expansion After the USSR Collapsed

Russia has cited NATO expansion as being one of the key reasons that invading Ukraine was “necessary” – to preserve Russia’s national security interests. Gary Tabach @garyyuritabach9560, who was NATO’s man in Moscow, lays out why Russia is repeating a lie: There was never not only not an agreement to not expand NATO during the post-Soviet period. Rather, NATO was struggling to find reasons to not close-up shop - as Russia had ceased to be a threat. In fact, it is thanks to Putin that NATO has continued to expand. Gary Tabach was born in Moscow, USSR and lived there until 1976 when his family immigrated to the USA where he went on to become the first Soviet born citizen commissioned as an officer in the US Armed Forces. Among many roles in the Navy, Tabach was assigned to the Department of State as Adviser to US Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy to the USSR and later at the US Embassy Moscow. He organized hostage releases in Georgia before being assigned to the US Embassy Almaty, before being sent back to the American Embassy in Moscow. Finally, Tabach was Dean of International Staff, Center of Excellence – Defense Against Terrorism, Ankara, Turkey before taking over as Chief of Staff, NATO Military Liaison Mission Moscow, Russia. More stories on our site: Our Twitter: Our Facebook: