I do believe Putin himself is on the line. We are at a key juncture. If Putin can claim a victory, then NATO is exposed as useless. But if Putin fails, if Ukraine holds, if this turns into a bloody mess, Putin himself is finished.
NATO itself may be finished either way. They have been exposed as being of little value in front of an actual Russian invasion.
I think you are spot on.
NATOs response would be to an invasion of a NATO member nation. Ukraine is not a member nation. The most we should expect is for the EU to provide Ukraine military, financial, and humanitarian aid. But don’t expect that to happen.
Ukrain is not an official NATO member. NATO has no duty or obligation to defend them.
“They have been exposed as being of little value in front of an actual Russian invasion.”
I disagree. NATO’s mandate is to protect fellow NATO members. If a Russia attacks any NATO member, all other member nations would be required by the NATO pact/treaty to join in the battle against Russia. However, Ukraine is not a member of NATO and therefore not entitled military protection or assistance from NATO.
But if Putin fails, if Ukraine holds, if this turns into a bloody mess, Putin himself is finished. NATO itself may be finished either way. They have been exposed as being of little value in front of an actual Russian invasion.
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Then the Russian invasion in 1956 of Hungary and the Russian invasion in 1968 of Czechoslovakian proved NATO was finished also?
NATO was formed to stop a Russian invasion of its MEMBERS, not outliers like the Ukraine.