Are the United States and NATO headed to war with Russia over Ukraine? Regardless of what Moscow does or doesn’t do, if Washington and Brussels base their policies on realistic, logical factors, the answer will be no, and Western security will be assured. If decisions are based on emotion and hubris, however, war is very much a possibility.
On Wednesday U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in unusually stark terms of a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia which, he said, would be a “serious mistake.” On Thursday, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador, shot back that Moscow had never contemplated an invasion of Ukraine and never would unless provoked by Ukraine – “or by somebody else.”
Before this war of words escalates to an actual shooting war, Washington, Moscow, and Brussels need to deescalate tensions and cool the rhetoric.
A military clash over Ukraine would harm the interests of all parties – and in a worst-case scenario – spiral out of control into a catastrophic nuclear exchange.
America and NATO vs. Russia in Ukraine: A Short History
This tense situation on the ground on both sides of the border of Ukraine has been building for quite some time.
The starting point for the current tense situation began in April 2008 when NATO formally accepted Ukraine and Georgia into its membership action plan, which promised eventual membership to both countries, bringing the NATO alliance directly to the borders of Russia. Two months earlier, Putin had warned that Russia “would have to target its offensive rocket systems at Ukraine” if Kiev joined NATO.
One week after the NATO announcement, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, ominously warned that if Ukraine or Georgia joined NATO, “Russia will take [military] steps aimed at ensuring its interests along its borders.” Less than four months later Russia made good on the threat and invaded parts of Georgia, later annexing the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
in February 2014 Ukrainian protesters ousted Moscow-friendly leader Viktor Yanukovych because he rejected closer integration with the European Union. Russia backed the Yanukovych government; the West backed the protestors. Taking advantage of the chaos – as he had done six years earlier in Georgia – Putin seized control of and later annexed Crimea – legally a part of Ukraine.
One month later, ethnic Russians backed by the Kremlin in southeastern Ukraine rebelled against their government and declared independence from Ukraine, which sparked a separatist war that remains on a slow burn. In response to President Obama’s overt statements of support for Ukraine, Deputy Foreign Minister for Russia Vladimir Titov said that any further expansion of NATO toward Russia’s border would be considered a “demonstration of hostile intentions.” Things simmered on a low boil until June of this year.
In the final communique issued at the end of the 2021 NATO summit, alliance leaders reiterated that as previous statements had indicated, “Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan.” Days later, as they had done in 2008, the Kremlin warned that Ukrainian entry into NATO was a “red line” that would result in unspecified actions.
Ignoring Moscow, Brussels announced in August that in response “to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO has reinforced its support for capability development and capacity-building in Ukraine.” In response, Putin again said any moves to build capacity in Ukraine would be a “red line.” Earlier in 2021 Russia had massed over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border but did little more than posture. Now, following NATO’s capacity-building plans, Russia is again building up troops opposite Ukraine towards an unknown purpose.
What Happens Next?
Without any question, it is in America’s interest for any sovereign nation, anywhere in the world, to remain free and democratic. Washington wants Kiev to remain free of Russian pressure, military or otherwise.
But preferences alone are not enough to build policies. Cold, hard reality must form our strategy. In considering how far the U.S. should go in support of Ukraine must be founded on an accurate assessment of how we can best secure America’s interests.
Central to that calculation must be the overriding imperative that our primary objectives must be avoiding unnecessary war with Russia and the preservation of peace in Europe.
Whether we like it or not, Moscow considers having a NATO military member on its border as an existential threat and evidence suggests they are willing to go to war to prevent it.
The cold, hard fact is that Ukraine is not a member of NATO and thus does not have Article 5 security guarantees. We should not extend such guarantees.
Today, Russian combat troops are in or near both Georgia and Ukraine. Putin has demonstrated he is willing to fight to preserve his borders. Our compelling obligations are to preserve peace in Europe for our treaty allies, and forcing NATO membership for Ukraine is likely to undermine that objective, not make Europe safer.
If the U.S. and NATO push too hard in militarily supporting Ukraine, the chances for war will continue to increase. If we instead encourage Kiev to make whatever accommodation it must with Moscow – while maintaining our Article 5 obligations to current NATO treaty partners – then there will be no war. If we ignore reality and push on trying to attain our preferred outcome, the chances of war with Russia increase to dangerous levels.
Daniel L. Davis is a Senior Fellow for Defense Priorities and a former Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army who deployed into combat zones four times. He is the author of “The Eleventh Hour in 2020 America.” Follow him @DanielLDavis1

Alex
November 13, 2021 at 1:39 pm
There is no need to provoke the Russians and approach their borders.
Sergey
November 13, 2021 at 1:39 pm
The only way US would fight against Russia is by use of the ukrainian soldiers. And americans will be fighting until the last Ukrainian soldier is over. Sure, they can support Ukraine with out of date and out of order boats and equally valuable boasts. That’s the way US military is working
Friendly dude
November 13, 2021 at 2:37 pm
These NATO and America are constantly climbing where they are not welcome and where someone else’s place is, stop provoking all those who disagree with you, the world is on the verge of collapse, it would be better to focus on improving the quality of life of the whole world
…
Эти нато и америка постоянно лезут туда где им не рады и где чужое место, прекратите провоцировать всех не согласных с вами, мир итак на грани коллапса, лучше бы сосредоточились на улучшении качества жизни в не особо цивилизованных местах
Umed Kaziev
November 13, 2021 at 3:17 pm
The article is false, and is based on a mixture of lies and half-truths.
The United States is trying to place its weapons as close to Russia as possible, so that later this will blackmail Russia.
It didn’t work out in Georgia. Now they are trying in Ukraine. But it won’t work either.
TotallyNotBiased
November 13, 2021 at 5:26 pm
hey David, how’s that Putin’s d1ck taste like? Hope they give u enough money for that… Talking about co cksu ckers, how are russian bots here doing? Hope you guys earned your 15 rubles!
Anyways, there is a reason why US is the top power in the world. It could have stayed away from fight and not support its Allies in WW1 and WW2; however, there are times when top power has to show its enemies where it’s at, hold its ground and support allies. That means more military supplies to Ukraine, more bases and more patrols to establish US ‘red lines’
Alex
November 14, 2021 at 12:58 am
There was once a supreme power. In the middle of the last century. We know what happened to her. We know who destroyed it. And this is not the USA.
Irena Chalupa
November 17, 2021 at 1:51 pm
Neither Ukraine nor Georgia are on track for NATO membership via the Membership Action Plan (MAP). It is dishonest to claim that both countries have MAP, as Davis does in this article. The issue here is very clear, Russia does not want a free, independent, democratic, pro-Western Ukraine and will do everything it can to prevent it. Sadly, Russia, a vast country with infinite resources and possibilities, has a huge chip on her shoulder, is hung up on Ukraine and simply refuses to leave its neighbor alone.
Ira Linger
January 23, 2022 at 4:43 pm
The Military Industrial Complex is cooking up a war in Ukraine.
Ukraine is in Russia’s backyard. Putin is looking after his own interests. The United States cannot secure its Southwest border. The American people are chumps being played.
The Spanish American War started over the Battleship Maine blown up due to a malfunctioning boiler.
Hitler had the Reichstag deception.
The Nazi’s invaded Poland in 1939 using a phony intrusion (canned goods) as an excuse for aggression.
Pearl Harbor was in the hopper & ‘no one’ noticed it was coming.
The Gulf of Tonkin attack, Vietnam, was another case of canned goods.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (DECEPTION) dragged us into a war (Iraq) that made military contractors rich. Great Americans such as Gen. Colin Powell lied like a rug in the UN. Good place to lie, they are all liars.
Seditious Americans used a Russian Hoax to take down President Trump. Same gang at it again. The Pinata this time is Putin.
If war comes to Ukraine America will get a taste of Stalingrad. More commercials on TV about Disabled Americans Veterans requiring financial assistance. As we send money overseas.
American cities require security. The American border needs to be secured.
Let Putin be Putin.
Peter Clarke
April 16, 2023 at 9:30 pm
It’s as simple as this- in a conventional war, the US alone would wipe the floor with Russia. The American’s excel in all the areas that the Russian’s have shown themselves to be completely inept at. EG Conducting effective combined arms operations. The Russian’s are NOT a true super power. A true super power can project serious power anywhere in the world, Russia cannot do that, the US most certainly can. Bearing in mind that the utterly useless Russian’s have been unable to defeat Ukraine in a head on fight, Russia would get absolutely pulverised by the US- which is leagues ahead the Russian military. The US forces have excellent leadership, well trained professional soldiers, superb equipment and a proven track record of being highly proficient at conducting combined arms operations. Meanwhile, Russia cannot even establish air supremacy over Ukraine. To all the Russian Bots on here operating out of the FSB office in Moscow, post as much drivel as you like, thump your chests as much as you like, it doesn’t alter the fact the the Russian military is thoroughly inept, barely makes the grade as Third rate, and is a laughing stock in military circles. Russia= Paper Tiger. Laughing at you pathetic, backward, third rate peasants from Great Britain- Enjoy our NLAW missiles, AS90’s and Challenger II tanks- and remember whose tactics the Ukrainians are using to great effect- *OURS!*