An astute, informed analysis of the real situation vis a vis NATO, Russia, and Ukraine. Thank you for sharing this. One other thing to remember is that Ukraine has the richest topsoil and most productive agriculture of anywhere in the former Soviet bloc--or in Eastern Europe, for that matter. And Russia has always been nervous about encroachment and invasion from Western Europe--and after Napoleon and Hitler, they have good historical p recedent. Putin is skillfully taking advantage of all of this. Let's just hope he stays sane and calculating, and does not go mad with power and delusion!