Russia and Ukraine

[Anomalocaris]

The US is considering adding several thousand more troops to Eastern Europe.

Which won’t do anything.

Putin knows:

1.  Direct western military action against Russia is impossible because: a) Russian can still nuke the US as completely as the US can nuke Russia, b) no second tier country on Russia’s borders would really want to be remembered in Russia as the spring board from which an attack on Russia was launched.  

2.  Russia probably has no plans to attack any other country in Eastern Europe in the near future so presence of american Troops there would not inconvenience Russia in that way.

3.  If presence of american troops is used as a strategic threat, such as hosting offensive air power or ballistic missile defence to nullify Russia strategic nuclear power, remember China.   America would not want to drive Russia towards China forever.

All in all, the hand of the west is really very weak.