There are plenty ways of saying ‘no’ that can escalate toward nuclear war.
The best ways to say ‘no’ are those that have precommitment toward them. Both NATO and the EU are precommited to defense of their borders.
Apart from that the Russian army already has a hard time fighting the Ukrainian army. The idea that it would have the power to push through the Atlantic seems very far from reality.
And there are ways to say “no” that might not escalate. Precommitment is more credible when backed up by preaction. For example (I don’t know if these things are already being done), building up forces in the proximal NATO countries and keeping them on alert.
What Putin has the power to do depends on what NATO has the resolution to do.
Putin will sweep all the way to the Atlantic if he is not stopped. The best time to say no is always right now.
There are plenty ways of saying ‘no’ that can escalate toward nuclear war.
The best ways to say ‘no’ are those that have precommitment toward them. Both NATO and the EU are precommited to defense of their borders.
Apart from that the Russian army already has a hard time fighting the Ukrainian army. The idea that it would have the power to push through the Atlantic seems very far from reality.
And there are ways to say “no” that might not escalate. Precommitment is more credible when backed up by preaction. For example (I don’t know if these things are already being done), building up forces in the proximal NATO countries and keeping them on alert.
What Putin has the power to do depends on what NATO has the resolution to do.