Comment by option
5 days ago
you can’t have de-escalation from just one side. When one side has embraced facism, invades neighbors and does hybrid attacks against you the only path that does not lead to MAD is when you are so overwhelmingly stronger that they have no choice but back up or die.
The wars always start if and only if aggressor thinks that the they can “win” something over the force.
You don't oppose someone recklessly gambling mass death by recklessly gambling mass death yourself, you just call their bluffs and maintain clear no-go lines.
What do you do when those lines are crossed? Like they have been repeatedly.
What do you think maintains those no-go lines? The threat of recklessly gambling mass death if those lines are crossed
There is a wikipedia page with a list of NATO "red lines" crossed by putin, look it up
It's a catch-22 anyway. NATO still really wants to de-escalate, but by allowing Putin to cross these red lines they show weakness to a person who values strength. However if they react violently to a crossed red line, they might trigger EU-wide or worldwide war (not necessarily nuclear).
I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of NATO leaders right now