The enlargement of NATO into former Soviet satellite states, which Russia views as an existential threat.

A public statement from NATO acknowledging that Ukraine would not be admitted for a long period (e.g., 100 years) to ease Russian security concerns.

Pozner identifies several events that fueled Russian resentment and distrust:

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Pozner contends the U.S. could have treated Russia as a partner—similar to the Marshall Plan after WWII. Instead, it adopted a policy of containment and superiority, often referred to as the Wolfowitz Doctrine , which viewed Russia as a "second-rate country" rather than a superpower.

In his lecture, veteran journalist Vladimir Pozner argues that current tensions between Russia and the West are not inevitable, but the result of specific U.S. foreign policy decisions made after the Cold War.

Pozner warns that current relations are more dangerous than the original Cold War because the traditional fear of has diminished, increasing the risk of an accidental strike. To de-escalate, he suggests: