If Putin was smart, he should have left Ukraine alone. And went after the Baltics. I doubt that NATO would have done anything.
If Putin was smart, he should have left Ukraine alone. And went after the Baltics.
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The Baltic states weren’t bombing ethnic Russians since 2014- the Ukies were.
Pooty probably could have snapped up a Baltic Country or two IF he could make it a sneak attack that began before other NATO forces arrived. But if those other countries’ forces are there even modestly as a tripwire, and get attacked, then I think NATO has to respond immediately in force (mostly by air, initially.)
The thing about the Baltics was that grabbing them didn’t help Pooty in his economic need to keep Ukraine off the Euro energy markets. Of course, he’s screwed the pooch on that one by not being able to take Ukraine quickly — Ukraine is now off that market of course, but, increasingly, Russia is too.
If Putin was interested in the rest of Europe he might have done exactly what you suggested. Either a dumb*ss, or he just wants donbas. Hard to guess.