You fail to see the difference between a satellite state of a near peer enemy, and an recent ally of a much superior power ?
The bottom line is that the missiles in Cuba were a major escalation in what was a balanced power relationship.
Russia, and some on this forum, seem to be unwilling to acknowledge that the relationship between NATO and Russia is so massively unbalanced that any difference Ukraine could make is irrelevant.
Think of it this way. You have a gang standoff with 5 guys on each side, and one side is trying to bring in #6, that's going to completely change the dynamic of the situation.
But, if it's 5 guys on one side and 25 on the other, bringing in #26 doesn't matter much.
NATO would absolutely curb stomp Russia in a war, regardless of what Ukraine does. That's why Russia trying to make anything out of it is ridiculous.
If Ukraine "became" part of NATO, why wouldn't Russia view that as a nuclear threat 200 miles from their capital?
If Ukraine is NATO, they would almost assuredly house B61 tactical bombs and F35s at a minimum.
And if what you say is true NATO would curb stomp Russia, wouldnt Russia then and justly be concerned to have that force a mere 200 miles from their capital by land?
I don't think Russia is a choir boy here but we've literally and figuratively "poked the bear". The west is picking this fight. They are using Ukraine blood as an unwitting mercenary to attack Russia in some short sighted strategy which is now backfiring.
Instead we should have tried to have a closer relationship with Russia and their energy stocks to keep Russia in our court against the wests real enemy, china
