> The reason being, purely from a military strategic thinking: Moscow simply cannot afford to have a vulnerable flank from the wide open fields of Ukraine and B

> The reason being, purely from a military strategic thinking: Moscow simply cannot afford to have a vulnerable flank from the wide open fields of Ukraine and Belarus. I don't know, my country has vulnerable flanks from wide open fields on all sides that aren't sea. Only if you start with the assumption that everybody not under your influence wants to destroy you, then your argument makes sense. But that assumption is insane. Russia had plenty time and encouragement to move the narrative from military talk to trade talk but unilaterally refused.