Because Putin is not insane and does not want to destroy Russia.
He wants to take it, and he can threaten and get away with it because the West won't react.
If the US 'gave' the Ukranians some drones and guided missiles and then 'fired' said missiles for the Ukrainians at Russian forces in Ukraine, at the bhest of Ukraine, what's he going to do?
Start lobbing nukes?
In fact, the Nuke/MAD part is what makes it maybe safer to react. As long as the US isn't invading anything it's hard to see what he could justify doing.
If he did a nuclear test, as a 'scary demonstration' - he would then lose the world's support. Even China would balk. He would be firmly nuts.
Russians out in the open, not in their own country with defences are easy targets. The US could do 'generational' damage to Russian forces in literally just a few days.
The US/West should probably be doing everything the can do short of invading.
NATO doesn't have the guts, it would have to be an American President.
Trump has the 'gall' but he's not a military person and a loose cannon. Biden is far to effete. I think possibly GW Bush II surrounded by neocons, would have done something, and so would his father who ejected Saddam from Kuwait and then sat back.
If Putin lobbed a nuke at Russia, it would be the end of Russia.
Putin is not stupid, he is stronger than Ukraine, but weaker than NATO.
There would be an embargo, they'd be encircled, their economy would shut down, Putin would be brought to some kind of trial and Russia would be denuclaraized.
He wants to take it, and he can threaten and get away with it because the West won't react.
If the US 'gave' the Ukranians some drones and guided missiles and then 'fired' said missiles for the Ukrainians at Russian forces in Ukraine, at the bhest of Ukraine, what's he going to do?
Start lobbing nukes?
In fact, the Nuke/MAD part is what makes it maybe safer to react. As long as the US isn't invading anything it's hard to see what he could justify doing.
If he did a nuclear test, as a 'scary demonstration' - he would then lose the world's support. Even China would balk. He would be firmly nuts.
Russians out in the open, not in their own country with defences are easy targets. The US could do 'generational' damage to Russian forces in literally just a few days.
The US/West should probably be doing everything the can do short of invading.
NATO doesn't have the guts, it would have to be an American President.
Trump has the 'gall' but he's not a military person and a loose cannon. Biden is far to effete. I think possibly GW Bush II surrounded by neocons, would have done something, and so would his father who ejected Saddam from Kuwait and then sat back.