Interesting analysis. I reject the framing of the debate. On what basis does the US claim to have a legitimate interest in Ukraine? Democracy? Please. We are supporting actual Nazis, not neo Nazis, actual Nazis, in Ukraine. Instead follow the money.

I had friends and traveled to Ukraine before the US-backed coup that started the current problems. We - the US - are the cause of this because we wouldn't accept that Ukraine wanted to be on friendly terms with both the west AND Russia.

An analogous situation would be if China or Russia had claimed that NAFTA was an existential threat, and just as ridiculous.

This all comes back - again - to the US MIC. They need new customers to continue to grow profits. One key way to do that is to expand NATO which then forces countries to buy US weapons.

Follow the money.