First, if Russia joins NATO, then NATO border now extends all the way to the Pacific Ocean, surrounding China from all sides.
NATO is an alliance against Russia. Ukraine is the one with the eternal talks of joining, Russia is not every going to join NATO nor would they be seriously invited.
Opinions on Putin aside, Russia is in a far stronger position internationally today than the early 2000s. A successful US backed coup against Putin is magical thinking, US is growing weaker by the moment. I also don't see Putin upsetting US oligarchs enough for them to demand that heavy handed of regime change. They already killed the commies and looted the USSR's corpse.
NATO is an alliance against Russia. Ukraine is the one with the eternal talks of joining, Russia is not every going to join NATO nor would they be seriously invited.
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Opinions on Putin aside, Russia is in a far stronger position internationally today than the early 2000s. A successful US backed coup against Putin is magical thinking, US is growing weaker by the moment. I also don't see Putin upsetting US oligarchs enough for them to demand that heavy handed of regime change. They already killed the commies and looted the USSR's corpse.
A coup on the USSR probably looked like magical thinking :sadness: