1).
„Before invading all of Ukraine in 2022, {dictator} Pootin demanded the withdrawal of @NATO forces from member states that were once part of the Kremlin’s sphere of influence.
2).
Such a move would have left countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland more vulnerable to a Russian attack. Nato itself would also have been weakened, perhaps fatally. Unsurprisingly, the military alliance rejected Pootin’s ultimatum.
3).
Four years on, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump has given Pootin hope that his demands might, at least partially, be met. Furious that @NATO members in Europe will not assist the US attack on Iran, Trump said on Wed. that he was »absolutely« considering withdrawing from the alliance.
4).
[...]
– »The threat of Nato’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the [EU] loan for Kyiv by @PM_ViktorOrban — it all looks like Pootin’s dream plan« – @donaldtusk [...] said on Thurs.
5).
The collapse of @NATO would be a massive personal victory for Pootin, who has characterised the alliance as a threat to Russia’s very existence. He cited Nato’s expansion in eastern Europe as one of the reasons for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
6).
American withdrawal would probably encourage nuclear threats from Russia, which has shown no qualms about using apocalyptic rhetoric to try to terrify Ukraine’s allies into dropping their support for Kyiv.
7).
Britain and France are the nuclear-armed countries in Nato besides America, but their combined stockpile of warheads is about nine times less than Russia’s. The loss of the US arsenal would make Russia the sole nuclear superpower in Europe.
[...]
8).
Although @realDonaldTrump would be unlikely to receive approval from Congress to leave the alliance, there is nothing to stop him from pulling American troops out of Europe and closing US bases. This would arguably benefit Pootin just as much as formal withdrawal.
9).
– »Who believes now that the US will come to the assistance of Nato countries?« – Olga Skabeyeva, a Russian state television presenter, said on Thurs. – »No one«.”
April 2, 2026
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕿𝖎𝖒𝖊𝖘 (@thetimes) archive.is/20260402185624…
@thetimes Please unroll @threadreaderapp. Thank you in advance 𓃠
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