From a purely geographical perspective, Ukraine is far more strategically important than the Baltics, due to its access to key rivers that flow into Belarus and

From a purely geographical perspective, Ukraine is far more strategically important than the Baltics, due to its access to key rivers that flow into Belarus and Russia and due to its Black Sea coastline. I am sure if the U.S. tried to place missile systems in the Baltics it would trigger a Cuban missile-crisis like situation.