Remember that we were in a similar situation in 2014. And at that point it was about the EU, not NATO. Since then Russia has invaded annexed part of Ukraine.

Remember that we were in a similar situation in 2014. And at that point it was about the EU, not NATO. Since then Russia has invaded annexed part of Ukraine. So no one observing this should be fooled to think that NATO is really relevant at all. The NATO talk from Russia now is chosen as an impossible demand because they know it’s impossible. It’s used to be able to point fingers and say “look, they are being unreasonable”. The audience is domestic. Whether NATO should be disbanded or not isn’t exactly a point on the agenda, nor is it fair to say that Ukraine (not a NATO member) has any responsibility in it. What should Ukraine do here? promise to never join NATO? At gunpoint? In what way does that respect the sovereignty of Ukraine? (The same way it’s borders are respected apparently).