Making a firm case for a NATO intervention in Ukraine would be an example of moral leadership which leadership seems to be elusive at present. In turn, an absence of this leadership in a crisis might fragment NATO. What more could Putin hope for?
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"Poland asked Nato to station 10,000 troops on its territory on Tuesday as a visible demonstration of the Alliance's resolve to defend all its members after Russia's seizure of Crimea.
Nato foreign ministers met in Brussels to consider requests for soldiers to be deployed in Poland and the Baltic States, all of which share borders with Russia. "
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"Diplomats are concerned that a permanent Nato military presence in member states bordering Russia could lead President Vladimir Putin to counter by bolstering his own forces near sensitive frontiers.
They are particularly reluctant to place any Nato troops in Ukraine itself. ''It's not the most opportune moment to have a visible Nato presence in Ukraine. It would be a golden pretext for the Russians to reinforce their presence,'' said a diplomat."
Can you see what's probably coming?