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Dmitri Alperovitch

Feb 24 • 9 tweets • 2 min read

How should we respond to Russian aggression but avoid escalation that leads us down the path of a terrible Russia-US conflict? 🧵

We have to respond forcefully and send a message to Putin and the rest of the world that this outrageous aggression will not be tolerated

However, priority #1 for Biden administration is rightly to avoid a war with Russia. That will be horrendous for the world and a scenario no one wants

https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1496573713134858243

I fear that sanctions that actually choke Russia's economy can lead us precisely down this path as I wrote about yesterday

https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1496573713134858243

What can we do then?

First, we need to go after the assets of Putin's oligarchs (especially his 'wallets'). Seize real-estate, yachts, etc that they have overseas

Second, we need to reinforce NATO and send a message that further aggression in Europe WILL be met with force

https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1478356570434121732

Last, as I wrote about in December, we need to deploy intermediate range ballistic missiles around Russia's periphery. Putin is clearly afraid of that. Let's give him some of the things he is afraid of - MK41s armed with Tomahawks in the Baltics

https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1478356570434121732

That will be a response he will be very concerned about. It will give us leverage we desperately need over Russia right now

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Putin is expected to give a televised address shortly #WatchThisSpace

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