[ivan_gammel]

Neither Russia, nor NATO plan any real war here. Ukraine - maybe, because it seems pretty convenient to grab some land in Donbas, given that West is ready to activate sanctions against Russia even before the first shot. Russian buildup is just big enough to put pressure, aggressive NATO rhetoric is to demonstrate "non-negotiability" of any limitations to NATO expansion.

Ukraine is not member of NATO and not an ally of NATO states, just a rather unreliable partner in security cooperation, a corrupt democracy with stagnating reforms that does not want to commit to the diplomatic agreements negotiated with the help of the West. There is no reason for NATO to participate in any military conflict there.