--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However, if Moscow regains control over…" description: "\"However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black Sea, Russia automaticall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg" --- # However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its… ![“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.” quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg) > “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.” [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control over Ukraine would restore Russia’s strategic depth, resources, and maritime access, reviving its imperial ambitions. **In simple terms:** Ukraine’s control boosts Russia’s power. Key Takeaway Recognize geopolitical shifts and their global impact. Themes geopolitics power resources Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - foreign policy planning - energy security - military strategy Key Concepts imperialism strategic depth Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of a resurgent Russia? - How might neighboring states respond? A Different Perspective Assumes Russia will act uniformly; internal politics may differ. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Control Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-ukraine-929351/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Moscow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moscow/) [Moscow Regains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moscow-regains-929350/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Automatically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-automatically-929352/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine/) [Ukraine 52](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine-52-929353/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Russia can never be an empire unless it is in control of Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-kalb/russia-can-never-be-an-empire-unless-it-is-in-control-of-ukraine/) [Marvin Kalb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-kalb/) > [Mr. Putin's goal is to push Russia's borders farther west, to control Ukraine's substantial agricultural exports and natural resources, and to destabilize Europe's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-suozzi/mr-putin-s-goal-is-to-push-russia-s-borders-farther-west-to-control/) [Tom Suozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-suozzi/) > [Russia has the ability to control Ukraine's economic future because of the natural gas pipeline link. And as a result, that means that Russia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-zisk-marten/russia-has-the-ability-to-control-ukraine-s-economic-future-because/) [Kimberly Zisk Marten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-zisk-marten/) > ["Bolshoi Babylon" is the work of filmmakers Mark Franchetti and Nicholas Read. Franchetti has been a Moscow-based journalist for 18 years. He won a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-blair-lee/bolshoi-babylon-is-the-work-of-filmmakers-mark-franchetti-and/) [Elizabeth Blair Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-blair-lee/) > [Anything that is missing in the implementation of the Minsk Agreement is - without any exception - up to the Kiev central government of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/anything-that-is-missing-in-the-implementation-of-the-minsk-agreement/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I believe it is wrong to give Moscow a rebate on Ukraine sanctions because of Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-believe-it-is-wrong-to-give-moscow-a-rebate-on-ukraine-sanctions/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [The most hopeful approach to peace in Ukraine is the Minsk Agreement, which includes Moscow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/the-most-hopeful-approach-to-peace-in-ukraine-is-the-minsk-agreement/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I was deeply involved in the decision that President Jimmy Carter made to boycott the Olympics in Moscow in 1980.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-was-deeply-involved-in-the-decision-that-president-jimmy-carter/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/regret-what-that-secret-operation-was-an-excellent-idea-it-had-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The key point to bear in mind is that Russia cannot be in Europe without Ukraine also being in Europe, whereas Ukraine can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-russia-cannot-be-in-europe/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Without Ukraine, Russia's imperial aspirations are essentially nostalgia, but it's not a real policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/without-ukraine-russia-s-imperial-aspirations-are-essentially/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-happen-to-think-that-as-the-ukraine-moves-to-the-west-towards-the-e/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Russia can be either an empire or a democracy, but it cannot be both. . . . Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/russia-can-be-either-an-empire-or-a-democracy-but-it-cannot-be-both/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Ukraine, a new and important space on the Eurasian chessboard, is a geopolitical pivot because its very existence as an independent country helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/ukraine-a-new-and-important-space-on-the-eurasian-chessboard-is-a/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“It’s like the fates are conspiring to keep me in Moscow. It’s not enough that Russia has winters brutal enough to decimate its enemies’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/it-s-like-the-fates-are-conspiring-to-keep-me-in-moscow-it-s-not/) [Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/) ## More by Zbigniew Brzezinski > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-future-is-inherently-full-of-discontinuities-and-lessons-of-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/look-at-islam-in-a-rational-manner-and-without-demagoguery-or-emotion/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [A waning United States would likely be more nationalistic, more defensive about its national identity, more paranoid about its homeland security, and less willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/a-waning-united-states-would-likely-be-more-nationalistic-more/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Peace between Israel and Palestine would be a giant step toward greater regional stability, and it would finally let both Israelis and Palestinians benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/peace-between-israel-and-palestine-would-be-a-giant-step-toward/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [It is axiomatic that the security of America and Europe are linked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/it-is-axiomatic-that-the-security-of-america-and-europe-are-linked/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Basically, I see Iran as an authentic nation-state. And that authentic identity gives it cohesion, which most of the Middle East lacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/basically-i-see-iran-as-an-authentic-nation-state-and-that-authentic/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Like so many empires before it, the Soviet Union eventually imploded and fragmented, falling victim not so much to a direct military defeat as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/like-so-many-empires-before-it-the-soviet-union-eventually-imploded/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In Iraq we must succeed. Failure is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-iraq-we-must-succeed-failure-is-not-an-option/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [One has to define very clearly what one's objectives are, determine in advance how much one is prepared to pay to achieve that objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/one-has-to-define-very-clearly-what-one-s-objectives-are-determine-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Saddam Hussein was an odious dictator, but he was also a very effective opponent of Iran. He was also a very effective opponent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/saddam-hussein-was-an-odious-dictator-but-he-was-also-a-very/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Hegemony is as old as mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/hegemony-is-as-old-as-mankind/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Democrats should insist that a pluralistic democracy such as ours rely on bipartisanship in formulating a foreign policy based on moderation and the nuances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/democrats-should-insist-that-a-pluralistic-democracy-such-as-ours/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Explore all 258 Zbigniew Brzezinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) [Andrew Nikiforuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-nikiforuk/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Broadband Internet access shouldn't depend on who you are or where you're from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/broadband-internet-access-shouldn-t-depend-on-who-you-are-or-where/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) [Browse all 2,178 Access quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Access" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "However, if Moscow regains control over...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```