“Right. Which makes it more palatable for Russia, but the US a sitting duck for the Weenies intent on drawing us into war.”
The key thing is that if Ukraine is not in NATO, then they won’t be an offensive threat to Russia, and thus Russia won’t have any reason to attack them, as both Russia and the Soviet Union proved in regard to Finland and Austria, both during after the Cold War.
It was only after the Neocons militarized Ukraine that Russia was forced to take action...that won’t happen in any agreement that Russia accepts. Basically the same deals they made regarding Finland and Austria.
NATO is (understandably) a nonstarter for the Russians.
But NATO-like protection, though still optional, is catnip for the scheming Weenies.
Still probably a worthwhile solution if it ends the war satisfactorily, however: Don’t get me wrong.
Pretzel logic. Finland is in NATO.