Statements in the open like this by our own National Security people ENSURE that the Russians WILL NOT respond to diplomacy. The idiot who made that statement to the press should be fired immediately.
Stupid foggy bottom types.
The first key to seeing that anything is happening is a mobilization order of some kind.. ships being sent or something.
That should of been done first thing.. even if was to the gates of the Black Sea.. at least Russia would know we weren’t watching from a big distance.
We could of punished them for not stopping by just sinking some of their fleet.