To contemplate: History never repeats itself exactly, but it worth recalling the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, and the Soviet invasion of Finland. Like the Ukraine, neither Ethiopia nor Finland had truly responsible governments, and the world gave the invaders a pass. Could it be that the democracies have learned their lesson and the invasion of a less than democratic regime by an utterly totalitarian state demands we support the former.
I think they are scared. Social media pressure on the elected leader. Swiss Govt folded very fast after the protest.
Any miscalculation by either NATO or Putin will start a wider conflict.