True. Provided that Russia does not go nuclear and destroy Europe. On the other hand, declining to admit Ukraine into NATO because Putin has buffaloed you into knuckling with nuclear threats guarantees that threats of nuclear retaliation will become his tool of choice, especially since his military isn’t up to snuff. So what to do? Damned if you do, or damned if you don’t. I think that Eastern European countries ought to form their own alliance against Russian aggression, one not as threatening as NATO to paranoid Russian mentality. But one with some military might behind it.
I don’t think they can thread that needle.
Russia is and will be paranoid. It’s in their blood.
The Eastern Europeans (EE) should go with the strongest alliance they can because it doesn’t matter—Russia will be mad anyways—the stronger the EEs are the more likely they’ll not be attacked or prevail if they are.
Ukraine should not be admitted to NATO *AT THIS TIME*. For the simple reason it does not currently qualify for membership. Once that changes Membership should be extended.
Russia seems to be suffering from an inferiority complex, as the simple fact that no member of NATO was compelled by the US to join. Russia seems to be harboring a load of butt hurt that it’s Eastern European allies of the Warsaw pact could not leave fast enough once their ability to compel membership in the alliance ended. Putin also seems to be having issues cajoling support from Russia’s current allies.