Do I have this right? Putin said he was invading Ukraine because IF they joined NATO, he'd have a

[Atticus]

NATO ally on his border.

So, if he takes over Ukraine, which he says "has always been a part of Russia", he will then have FOUR NATO ALLIES on his border: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania.

He is just crazy enough to think historians will praise him for "defending Mother Russia".

[Nevilledog]

1. You have this right.

[Claustrum]

2. He will use the same excuse if and when he invades those countries.

It never was meant to make sense or be logical. It's all just an excuse.

[TheRealNorth]

5. Exactly

Did TFG's nonsensical claims ever stop him?

[sarisataka]

3. That is correct however

Controlling Ukraine means the border with NATO is over 1200km farther west than if Ukraine became a NATO member.

[Ocelot II]

4. Russia also has a border with Norway, an original NATO member,

and it's an important one even though it's in the middle of nowhere, because of Russia's military exercises in the Arctic and concerns over its involvement in the Arctic Council https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/may-be-harder-attend-arctic-council-meetings-russia (and that's important for Alaska, too, where you can see Russia from your house).

[Best_man23]

6. Russia also has the Baltic states on its border

All of whom (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) joined NATO in 2004. If Pootin is serious about reconstituting the Soviet Union, the Baltic states would be his potential next target after Ukraine.

[dalton99a]

7. Yep