And yet they are still talking about doing that very thing. Precluding, uncategorically, Ukraine’s membership in NATO is what is required.
I’d say any talk of converting Mexico into a vassal state of Russia would be met with not a little belicosity.
The Russian assets in the Americas will be clear when we face attacks from Agents in the USA. Cuba and Central America. The Cartels of Mexico (the real power in Mexico) will side with Putin. So will Brazil and Venezuela and Bolivia. Russian Swan bombers can refuel their before hitting America. Can we invade Cuba and Ukraine at the same time?
Ukraine and Georgia applied to join NATO in 2008.
It was rejected by Germany and France for fear of “provoking Russia”. 6 weeks after that rejection, Russia in any case invaded Georgia.
Ukraine was not going to become a vassal state of the USA, no more than France or Germany or Poland or Estonia, members of NATO, and in any way vassals.
Putin tried to make Ukraine a vassal state like Belarus, but failed last March