I am sure we are involved in some role at least in the Western Ukraine.
I am much more concerned about the command and control of nuclear weapons on both sides.
There is a long and ugly history of “close calls”—and it turned out that launch authority did get delegated down the chain of command in some situations.
Despite endless assurances from both sides that “this could never happen”, I remain unconvinced.
It is entirely possible somebody could get an itchy trigger finger.
Agreed. It starts with making provocative statements about nuclear weapons. People that think "that just can't happen" should consider possible pressure points that could change that certainty.
One possible scenario is that US (not really)/European leadership does not offer an "off-ramp" to Putin to deescalate. Some people see that as a sign of weakness. That's a fair point.
But if so, US/European leadership is going to have to decide on how far they will go to sanction Russia. Russia is not North Korea - they will not behave as a country in the same manner. What's next - blockade of humanitarian aide to all non-Russian held areas of the Ukraine? To Russia? Expel Russian nationals from Europe and the US? Nationalize Russian businesses operating in the US and Europe?