[ceilingcorner]

Baltics are easily neutralized with taking the Suwalki gap. The Russians were also not happy with them joining NATO, but couldn’t do much about it. And Ukraine (Kievan Rus) is the center of eastern Slavic civilization and therefore much more important to Putin than a largely unrelated culture in Latvia, Lithuania, etc.

Otherwise yes I do think Mearsheimer is a little too mechanical in his theories and doesn’t factor in ideologies, especially in the modern Information Age.

[warner_of_doom]

Once Russia has Ukraine, they will have met most of their core geostrategic security objectives. If they go any farther, then it will be WW3 as it should be.

[redisman]

Baltic’s will be greatly reinforced by Finland and Sweden joining NATO within 6 months to 2 years. 100% because of this act of war.