No, this is not happening: Putin is not putting bases next to the US, and if he does, this is just for a show. The brief reason is that it is just not worth it, he has means to erase the US without these bases, and they are costly — and he knows how to count money.
To explain what he may or may not do, consider a couple of question nobody bothers to ask (and should): just why Putin is giving an ultimatum which everyone expects to be turned down or ignored, and why he is doing it now?
I think there is just one answer to it: China.
US-China confrontation is coming, and position of Russia in this triangle is decisive. China wants a stronger alliance with Russia, the US wants Russian neutrality.
Of course Putin understands that Russian neutrality will lead to an all-out attack on Russia if the US succeeds against China. The guarantees Putin is seeking is not for now, but for exact this scenario.
And this is also the reason why if Biden(or rather his handlers) have a good reason to accept the “ultimatum” — because otherwise China has a much stronger hand. Of course, this presumes that Biden et al have enough intellect to understand the global picture.... I have my doubts here!
Now, I can see a list of about twenty options Putin has to make his point — in different areas, with different tools. he can make more than one move too. But what I believe is certain is that at least one of the moves would be strengthening the alliance with China, because this is the main point of the message he is trying to send. The Force of Siberia II is among the safest (but strong) options here, there are others.
Amazingly the situation resembles pre-WWII’s when the Brits and the French went into endless negotiations with USSR about security guarantees, and after a couple of months Stalin opted for an agreement with Germany.
So... it may be that Brandon is reenacting the behavior of Chamberlain and Daladier of those days.
“Of course Putin understands that Russian neutrality will lead to an all-out attack on Russia if the US succeeds against China.”
I don’t understand that statement.
Please explain why, if Russia remained neutral in a US vs China war which the US wins; why then would Russia be attacked and by whom?
Best comment so far.