Quote:
Originally Posted by curves2000
I do wonder if NATO is making another strategic mistake in their line of thinking about this. Ukraine and it's President are looking for concrete steps and a timeline for them getting into NATO, obviously it can't happen now since Russian troops are currently inside it's borders.
Back in 2008 when Georgia and Ukraine were told they could start the process at the NATO summit, it kind of left both of them in the worst possible position. It showed Putin that he has been right about fears of NATO expansion but it also didn't give the countries the protection of NATO. Putin was able to invade both countries in a short time frame and suffered little to no consequences as a result.
As long as Russia has any troops inside Ukraine, and that could be a very very long time, are these NATO meetings and talks about Ukraine joining them just for show??
I feel that until we ramp up pressure in a significant way with Russia, with sheer force and determination to prove that this invasion will not work for Putin , he will just continue the same tactics.
A lot of the west does not understand the geopolitical aspects to this and your common American and US politician may eventually get tired of supporting Ukraine to the same extent . With Putin escalating threats of nuclear war as a way of keeping the west on it's toes, will he just be able to grind it out as long as he can?
I just wonder if we should flip the script and put pressure on Putin to withdraw or take an exit ramp with a serious threat of Ukraine gaining serious membership to NATO with these steps or long term military support with an abundance of NATO trained troops and equipment
|
I don't think so. Regardless of NATO membership Russia isn't going to pull out unless they have no choice. NATO membership isn't changing Russia's expansionist goals at all. There needs to be less wringing of hands about what Russia will do if x, y, or z. Do what Ukraine needs. Russia has zero cards to play