Changes

With the collapse of the [[Warsaw Pact]] despite assurances to the [[Russian Federation]] that it would not do so, NATO expanded to [[Central Europe]]an countries, these included [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Bulgaria]] and Romania, resulting in an organization of 26 nations.  This spark of expansion was seen as an offensive move by [[Russia]] and caused a rift in the NATO, Russia relations. The Russian lower house released to the press a statement, "At present we are debating the draft statement of the State Duma which we are planning to adopt in connection with NATO's expansion in Europe. Our opinion is equivocal that this act is erroneous. I think that this is a big historical mistake on the part of western states."

With the collapse of the [[Warsaw Pact]] despite assurances to the [[Russian Federation]] that it would not do so, NATO expanded to [[Central Europe]]an countries, these included [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Bulgaria]] and Romania, resulting in an organization of 26 nations.  This spark of expansion was seen as an offensive move by [[Russia]] and caused a rift in the NATO, Russia relations. The Russian lower house released to the press a statement, "At present we are debating the draft statement of the State Duma which we are planning to adopt in connection with NATO's expansion in Europe. Our opinion is equivocal that this act is erroneous. I think that this is a big historical mistake on the part of western states."

After dangling the bait of NATO membership before Ukraine for fourteen years, NATO was compelled to confess that it would not be able to come to the defense of Ukraine in case of any Russian military invasion because Article 5 only allowed collective defense to be invoked for NATO members, which Ukraine is not.  Any sanction package that targets Russian energy and/or access to banking institutions would hurt Europe far more than Russia.  There is no viable alternative for Europe to Russian energy supplies of home heating oil and natural gas.

After dangling the bait of NATO membership before Ukraine for fourteen years, NATO was compelled to confess that it would not be able to come to the defense of Ukraine in case of any Russian military invasion because Article 5 only allowed collective defense to be invoked for NATO members, which Ukraine is not.  Any sanction package that targets Russian energy and/or access to banking institutions would hurt Europe far more than Russia.  There is no viable alternative for Europe to Russian energy supplies.  The U.S. cannot compete with Russia in terms of price and volume when it comes to home heating oil and natural gass deliveries.

=== NATO expansion: Russia reaction===

=== NATO expansion: Russia reaction===