Just a reminder, the Russian GDP, including it’s new oil wealth, is about on par with the state of New Jersey or Mexico. The US, NATO, and the EU have pushed to the Russian borders swallowing up most of it’s European empire. What they can’t stop by force they may well be able to stop by bluff. And the Russians have almost a century of experience bluffing the west, usually with great success.
Put in context with Western inroads in Eastern Europe, it does make some sense. Brinksmanship is nothing to put past Putin either. Thanks.