“And with each NATO provocation the fingers move closer to the red buttons”
You don’t understand Putin. Pushing the red button would mean he wouldn’t be able to live in retirement luxury on his stolen riches.
You're absolutely right that I don't understand Putin. To me he is the epitome of the inscrutable poker player. And, I've also heard all my life that the Russian mind had been shaped by a history of unspeakable deprivation and pain.
I'm glad you know better, because otherwise the West could be playing with fire.