Last week President Putin stated that Russia has no interest in attacking the NATO military alliance. President Biden had claimed that Russia would be emboldened to attack a NATO country if they triumph against Ukraine, sparking World War III.
Founded in 1949, the NATO alliance’s main objective was to provide Western security against the Soviet Union. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO included former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries to further provide cushion against the Russians. Although this might seem like a good strategy by the West, Putin considers the expansion of NATO to former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries as an arrogant way the West handles Russia’s security concerns.
Per Article 5 of the NATO treaty, an armed attack against one or more NATO countries in Europe or North America is considered an attack against all. With such military might, NATO guarantees security to member countries.
U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. In 22 months, the United States has provided approximately $111 billion in weapons, equipment, and other supplies, and Biden has pleaded with Congress to approve an additional $61.4 billion to support war-torn Ukraine.
Putin claims that the war is a part of the bigger struggle with the West, especially the United States. According to Putin, the U.S. intends to grab its natural resources to defeat China. However, the United States firmly disagrees saying that it does not have any plans of destroying Russia. Ukraine is adamant that it will not rest until they have ejected all Russian soldiers from its territory.
