Is this the new foreign policy of the United States, NATO, the UN, and the EU?    While the madman Putin continues his murderous rampage across a sovereign nation, will the world continue to stand meekly by because we can’t risk a direct conflict with Russia/Putin?   Where will this policy stop?

Say Putin takes Ukraine, while continuing to bluster about dire consequences, even use of nukes, against whichever Western nations or alliances interfere.  Does he stop there, or does he then try for relatively easy pickings like Lithuania, Estonia, etc, while issuing the same threats.    No, you say:  then NATO will step in to protect its allies.   But in the meantime, we let Putin murder tens of thousands of innocents in Ukraine.

The point is, we are going to have to call Putin’s bluff sooner or later.   His army is not doing well in Ukraine.   Putin anticipated the Ukrainian people would roll over and hail a return to the Motherland’s embrace.   Not happening.   You see, the Ukrainians have tasted real freedom, and they like it.   They see the restrictions upon their neighbors and relatives in Crimea and the Donbas region, and will not allow themselves to be subjugated that way ever again.    Putin did not understand that, and feels now that he cannot turn back without hugely embarrassing Russia.

He might take control of the Ukrainian borders, but he will never control its people, who will subject the Russians to an endless war of attrition.   He will not be able to extend beyond Ukraine, as he will face tougher opposition and he has not the supply chain capability to keep his army indefinitely in hostile foreign lands.

Some world leader(s) (sadly, it won’t be slow Joe Biden) need to develop some gumption and stop the slaughter now.

1. establish a UN or NATO no-fly zone.   Russian pilots are not US and NATO pilots, and I predict they would fail to stand up to an onslaught of Allied fighters and electronic warfare aircraft.   Their anti-aircraft missile systems are very good, but they could also be neutralized.   NATO pilots shot down would be heroes.    Russian pilots would be shot on sight.
2. Visit some terror upon the Russians, demoralize them.  We would easily own the night.   Launch Predator drones with Hellfire missiles against the stalled Russian convoy outside Kyiv.    Supply Ukrainian fighters with the Switchblade mortar-launched drones with warheads, controlled from a handheld remote.

Would Putin resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons, or worse?   I cannot say or predict, but to do that, even if he ordered the launch, would his generals comply with the direction of this unspeakable level of horror, or put an end to Putin’s rampage from within?    Again, Putin will continue to threaten this until he gets all the territory he wants, especially if we continue to stand idly by other than to supply Ukraine, which yes, is significant.    Somewhere along the line, we have to call his bluff.    Sooner would save countless numbers of Ukrainian lives, and everyone knows it.

Who will be first; who will be the leader?