I think that this is also a message to the Poles and Czechs.
Putin is showing them that when they have a confrontation with Russia that they will be own their own. The United States will not help you.
You need to re-consider your choice.
With the Poles and the Czechs things would be a little different. They are officially NATO members and an attack against one is considered an attack against all. It’s extremely unlikely the ‘Soviets’ would take on a NATO country. Georgia unfortunately wasn’t one yet.
Yep, he’s killing a number of birds with one stone.