---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key point to bear in mind is that…"
description: "\"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 ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg"
---

#  The key point to bear in mind is that Russia cannot be in…

![“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.” quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg)

> “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.”

[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 European identity is tied to Ukraine; Ukraine can be European independently.

**In simple terms:** Ukraine defines Europe’s identity.

Key Takeaway

Support Ukraine’s autonomy.

Themes

geopolitics identity nation‑state

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

political academic

When to use this quote

- foreign policy
- international law
- strategic planning

Key Concepts

Europe Russia Ukraine sovereignty

Questions to Reflect On

- How does geography affect politics?
- What are the limits of national identity?

A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex relations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Europe Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-russia-276549/) [Europe Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-ukraine-2064079/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-europe-520759/) [Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine/) [Ukraine Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine-europe-2064080/) [Without u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-u/)

## Related quotes

> [Everyone in my country understands that Russia cannot do without Europe and that, vice versa, Europe cannot do without Russia. We depend on cooperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-matviyenko/everyone-in-my-country-understands-that-russia-cannot-do-without/)

[Valentina Matviyenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-matviyenko/)

> [With Shakhtar I also won a set of titles not only in Ukraine but in Europe also. I felt comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willian/with-shakhtar-i-also-won-a-set-of-titles-not-only-in-ukraine-but-in/)

[Willian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willian/)

> [The United States supports a strong, united Ukraine with productive and peaceful relationships with both the East and the West, with both Russia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-united-states-supports-a-strong-united-ukraine-with-productive/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [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/)

> [There is crisis in Europe, where Russia is the principle intriguer and player, which affects a major source of international business and flow of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/there-is-crisis-in-europe-where-russia-is-the-principle-intriguer-and/)

[Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/)

> [“Peter returned to Russia determined to remold his country along Western lines. The old Muscovite state, isolated and introverted for centuries, would reach out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/peter-returned-to-russia-determined-to-remold-his-country-along/)

[Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/)

> [The United States really only accounts for about 3 percent of the economic engagement with Russia. Europe is 40 percent, and so Europe's contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/the-united-states-really-only-accounts-for-about-3-percent-of-the/)

[Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/)

> [We are convinced that locking Russia out of Europe is not rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/we-are-convinced-that-locking-russia-out-of-europe-is-not-rational/)

[Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/)

> [I believe it is important for both Russia and Europe that Belarus is a sovereign, independent state where Europeans can feel at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/i-believe-it-is-important-for-both-russia-and-europe-that-belarus-is/)

[Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/)

> [There is no desire from the new British players. They say their coach doesn't travel with them so it's hard, but I played hundreds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-henman/there-is-no-desire-from-the-new-british-players-they-say-their-coach/)

[Tim Henman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-henman/)

> [“Since the turn of the millennium, and particularly over the last decade, no fewer than twenty-five democracies have failed around the world, three of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-luce/since-the-turn-of-the-millennium-and-particularly-over-the-last/)

[Edward Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-luce/)

> [I don't know about others, but I want to work in India, America, Iran, Europe, and Russia - everywhere. I am a sucker for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mawra-hocane/i-don-t-know-about-others-but-i-want-to-work-in-india-america-iran/)

[Mawra Hocane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mawra-hocane/)

> [It's very hard for Europe, the US and Russia to have much influence on the growing problems elsewhere in the world unless we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/it-s-very-hard-for-europe-the-us-and-russia-to-have-much-influence-on/)

[Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/)

> [One thing I fear, that you Americans will do the same thing that you did after the last war. I mean that you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-schacht/one-thing-i-fear-that-you-americans-will-do-the-same-thing-that-you/)

[Hjalmar Schacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-schacht/)

## 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 Bears quotes

> [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/)

[Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Television series are like the stock market. There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [The Germans are the most philosophic people in the world, and the greatest smokers: now I trace their philosophy to their smoking. Smoking has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-borrow/the-germans-are-the-most-philosophic-people-in-the-world-and-the/)

[George Henry Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-borrow/)

> [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [You've had a whole lot of experience, but everything is also radically new at each moment, and you have to bring a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/you-ve-had-a-whole-lot-of-experience-but-everything-is-also-radically/)

[Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/)

> [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/)

[Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [Some things in this world just ain't meant to be, not in the times we want 'em to, and the heart has to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/some-things-in-this-world-just-ain-t-meant-to-be-not-in-the-times-we/)

[James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/)

> [And if anyone knows anything about anything," said Bear to himself, "it's Owl who knows something about something," he said, "or my name's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-if-anyone-knows-anything-about-anything-said-bear-to-himself-it-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm totally independent. I don't bear any responsibility to any system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-m-totally-independent-i-don-t-bear-any-responsibility-to-any-system/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

[Browse all 4,111 Bears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "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.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-russia-cannot-be-in-europe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bears"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-russia-cannot-be-in-europe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_bears_the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-ru_2615458.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The key point to bear in mind is that Russia cannot be in Europe without Ukraine also being in Europe…” — 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": "The key point to bear in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-russia-cannot-be-in-europe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-key-point-to-bear-in-mind-is-that-russia-cannot-be-in-europe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
