What Putin Can Do

Keep a plausible invasion size force on Ukraine's border. 100,000 isn't sustainable but some lesser figure in the thousands would be. We just sent 3,000 troops to NATO. Putin says he feels threatened by NATO expansion. I understand NATO has never attacked the Soviet Union or Russia. Therefore I understand that the fear of an attack is unwarranted. I also understand that there has never been plausible justification for NATO's expansion when the Soviet Union ended and the Soviet satellite countries were free. I understand Russian fears of encirclement. Even if you have buried the hatchet with your neighbor four doors down, why does he still have his guns pointed in your direction and why is he buying up houses ever closer to you? Would it quiet your concerns if with every property gobble your neighbor said, "It's not aimed at you."? I know that we lied to Gorbachev and his Russian successors about NATO expansion. When you combine no plausible justification with lies your neighbor's suspicions don't look paranoid. Putin has got guns pointed in Western Europe's direction, too. He has got them pointed at the continental U.S. But if medium-range missiles were positioned in Ukraine Moscow would be in range within minutes.

Reportedly the U.S. has told Putin that it will not install missiles in Ukraine. But we will not commit to not expanding NATO to Ukraine. Fine. So what Putin can do is keep an invasion-sized force on Ukraine's border permanently. That would cause Ukraine second thoughts about moving into the European Union, much more becoming a NATO member. An invasion-sized force would also give the U.S. a taste of the fear and distrust that Russia has toward the U.S. and NATO.