"U.S. and NATO officials say there are now about 20,000 Russian troops massed just east of Ukraine’s border. The U.S. also says Russia continues to train and equip separatists battling Ukraine’s government."
"Among the scenarios that worry some in NATO is Putin potentially sending Russian troops into eastern Ukraine in the guise of a “peacekeeping” force. That concern has deepened as the Russian-supported separatists appear to lose the initiative against Ukrainian government forces.
Hagel also said that Russia’s provocative actions are forcing the U.S. and its allies to take a close look at how NATO is structured and prepared for such military crises and other challenges of the future."
Could Putin be planning to use Russian military force to take control of events in eastern Ukraine?
If we get NATO to engage in some security response to an invasion of Ukraine by Russia will Western Europe follow our lead or will we cause a split?
Would Western Europe fight to maintain an independently sovereign Ukraine?