Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

VIENNA — No one expected much progress from this past week’s diplomatic marathon to defuse the security crisis Russia has ignited in Eastern Europe by surrounding Ukraine on three sides with 100,000 troops and then, by the White House’s accounting, sending in saboteurs to create a pretext for invasion.

But as the Biden administration and NATO conduct tabletop simulations about how the next few months could unfold, they are increasingly wary of another set of options for President Vladimir V. Putin, steps that are more far-reaching than simply rolling his troops and armor over Ukraine’s border.

Mr. Putin wants to extend Russia’s sphere of influence to Eastern Europe and secure written commitments that NATO will never again enlarge. If he is frustrated in reaching that goal, some of his aides suggested on the sidelines of the negotiations last week, then he would pursue Russia’s security interests with results that would be felt acutely in Europe and the United States.

There were hints, never quite spelled out, that nuclear weapons could be shifted to places — perhaps not far from the United States coastline — that would reduce warning times after a launch to as little as five minutes, potentially igniting a confrontation with echoes of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-issues-subtle-threats-more-far-reaching-than-a-ukraine-invasion/ar-AASPl0A

[marie999]

1. And we have nuclear weapons in 5 NATO countries.

So I guess we may not have to worry about Covid-19 and climate change after all.

[Chainfire]

2. I would just as soon it be a surprise anyway, and hope to be at ground zero.

Putin wants a Russian Empire back, he sees weakness in his enemies and he hopes to intimidate the world with threats. He is following the path of Hitler in the late 30s; get what you want by threats and if that doesn't work by force. Donald Trump and his supporters hold Putin in high esteem. The EU and the US are politically weak and divided, Putin's timing is probably spot on. Someone needs to drop a house on the man before he kills us all.