--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Russia can be either an empire or a…" description: "\"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 a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cease_russia-can-be-either-an-empire-or-a-demo_876783.jpg" --- # Russia can be either an empire or a democracy, but it… ![“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.” quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cease_russia-can-be-either-an-empire-or-a-demo_876783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cease_russia-can-be-either-an-empire-or-a-demo_876783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cease_russia-can-be-either-an-empire-or-a-demo_876783.jpg) > “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.” [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. Russia's identity hinges on empire or democracy; Ukraine determines which path it follows. **In simple terms:** Russia must choose empire or democracy, Ukraine decides. Key Takeaway Recognize geopolitical stakes. Themes politics identity geopolitics nationhood Ukraine Mood thoughtful serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic discourse - international relations Key Concepts state theory balance of power regional stability Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist for Russia? - How does Ukraine influence Russian identity? A Different Perspective Choice may oversimplify complex realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-ukraine-1009356/) [Empire Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire-democracy-1009355/) [Empire Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire-ukraine-1009354/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-empire-1009357/) [Subordinated Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subordinated-russia-1009358/) [Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine/) [Without u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-u/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black Sea, Russia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/) [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/) > [I trust Angela Merkel, she is a very open person. She is also subject to certain constraints and limitations. But she is honestly trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-trust-angela-merkel-she-is-a-very-open-person-she-is-also-subject/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Today in Ukraine, many people struggle to survive, older ones often see the breakdown of the Soviet system as a loss of stability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pinchuk/today-in-ukraine-many-people-struggle-to-survive-older-ones-often-see/) [Victor Pinchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pinchuk/) > [There had been a proposed plank for the platform that said the Republican Party believed the United States should support Ukraine in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/there-had-been-a-proposed-plank-for-the-platform-that-said-the/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [“I have been watching the Democrats run the USA for four years. The police are still corrupt and incompetent, their ‘green’ energy policy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-have-been-watching-the-democrats-run-the-usa-for-four-years-the/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I've cosponsored legislation to establish a lend-lease program to simplify bureaucratic barriers and allow a speedier transfer of U.S. military equipment to Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-ve-cosponsored-legislation-to-establish-a-lend-lease-program-to/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [People power. It has no limits. In politics, every politician in Ukraine is afraid of that. They know, if people go to the streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/people-power-it-has-no-limits-in-politics-every-politician-in-ukraine/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [All I say is, let's pray for Ukraine... and they need the prayers. I know that it wasn't easy for my grandfather's family, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/all-i-say-is-let-s-pray-for-ukraine-and-they-need-the-prayers-i-know/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) ## 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 Cease quotes > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Without a function, we cease to be. So, I will write till I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/without-a-function-we-cease-to-be-so-i-will-write-till-i-die/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [My child, seek those things which make for peace. 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