@lucky1973 - Europeans are physically much closer to Russia - and many in Europe still remember the final rescue by Russia, which concluded with occupation - lasting in my former country until 1956 - in Eastern Europe into the 1990s. Biden missed his chance to negotiate right at the beginning of this now intractable and unwinnable war for the democratic forces,but, of course, Biden has to look strong.
It would have been smarter to have negotiated right at the beginning - and there was a small window of opportunity - instead of escalation, which to a dictator like Putin means only one thing: licence to use all means possible in order to win at all cost.
Ukraine will be totally destroyed - most of its population will have become refugees and will have become a new diaspora in Western countries and Putin's Russia, along with his oppressive government will be closer to Western Europe - this is why Macron tried to keep talking.
The big danger for Putin wasn't so much the closeness of NATO, but the closeness of democratic ideas which were seeping into his population as well. Now Europe will face two enemies; it's own resurrection of nationalist, racist right-wingers as well as Russia - two non-democratic choices. Unhappy times ahead.
Taurisk
