likely they would tolerate another Russian incursion like Crimea). Also, the weaker (appeasement oriented) the US president, the more likely Putin knew he could get away with another territory take back.
Along comes Biden who adds to the impression of weakness with his Afghanistan Debacle.
Putin already got away with taking back Crimea for just a wrist slap under Obama’s watch. But under Trump, he met a much sterner threat, and he realized the time would never be better than with this new US president who appeared even weaker than Obama. And after all, during the Crimea invasion, the only material aid the US provided the Ukrainians was blankets.
Biden further waves a red flag in front of the bulls eyes to charge…..he cancels the US Keystone Pipeline and cancels oil company contracts in the polar ANWR REGION thereby removing the major future competitive threat for his energy sales to Europe AND inexplicably, “The Big Guy” Biden removes the tech help blockade on the U.S. companies that can provide Putin with the ability to complete the final 10% undersea component of his own Nord Stream 2 Pipeline to provide badly needed oil to Germany and the EU.
Germany et al for their part we’re starving themselves with green windmill farms and deconstructed coal plants and nuclear plants aging out without replacement.
A monster like Putin foresaw a token wrist slap for his actions - the EU NEEDED his oil, and without the local EU support, the US would not be nearly as likely to assist or make a difference (and, indeed, Biden even was signaling g such by saying that there was an incursion amount that would be tolerated before it even happened. He also would not give arms ahead of time, and he was very slow to help after the invasion). Germany has still done Jack squat for the Ukraine.
But nobody foresaw the great, great leader Vlodomyr Zelensky, and a few small but brave Allies who supported the Ukrainians fully from the start (Poland).
Biden offered him a chance to flee the country rather than stay and fight with his people. Zelensky said famously to the US and Biden, “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition”
Biden slowly came around to helping the Ukrainians with more than token support as the political winds in the US and around the world mounted for Zelensky.
Also, nobody foresaw how overrated the Russian military was. It became more and more apparent that the Ukrainians could effectively fight the Russians. In fact, they could hurt the US’s enemy like no one else. The aid flowed fully at that point.
The liberals will spin this, but we all saw it. Remember to vote. We are closer to nuclear war than we have ever been.