How is that not escalation that could lead to MAD?
Analysts from all over the spectrum have been warning about the Ukraine red line for decades.
It’s worth pointing out that Ukraine never actually did join NATO (and arguably was a long way from it) and war was still the outcome.
The right of Ukrainians to self determine their country’s future shouldn’t hinge on the whims of Putin or Russia in general.
Yes, I know that is a moral position at odds with politics and reality
Aren't they usually? That's how one knows that it's a moral position.
Economic actions can be reversed much more easily than military action. Sanctions and frozen accounts have an undo button. Dead people and destroyed cities cannot be undone.
I see economic action as the one most likely to have immediate effects internal to Russia that would undermine support for the war rather than bolster it.
I would not be surprised if EU offers interim membership to Ukraine, and then offers air support / no fly zone - calling Putins bluff and widening the conflict.
I think Europe _should_ regard war on Ukraine as a declaration of war on Europe, and the rest of the west _should_ regard war on EU as war on all Western countries.
One reason for this is that if the West does not retaliate towards this aggression, then others will surely follow - perhaps Russia decides Lithuania is part of Russia after all, or Chinese leadership is emboldened to 'take back' Taiwan ?
Even if Russia withdraws tomorrow, can the West trust a madman with nuclear weapons ?
I think the West is at war with Russia today, even if we haven't admitted it to ourselves yet.
How is not applying more sanctions until they are effective anything less than appeasement? Which does not have a great historical record...
Between a shooting war and an economic war I suspect that the former is far more likely to get out of control.