> but I don't know why capitulation isn't an option There's a school of thought that says capitulation emboldens the attacker. Say Crimea and the whole of Ukra

> but I don't know why capitulation isn't an option There's a school of thought that says capitulation emboldens the attacker. Say Crimea and the whole of Ukraine had been handed over to Russia with no resistance, why would they stop there? Diplomacy fails when the other side misreads your intentions; a seemingly somnulent NATO may wake up to a reconstituted USSR invasion of Poland because Russia is confident fear of nuclear conflict will deter any action. No one wants that.