Is there a red-line for what the Russians will be allowed to do inside Ukraine?

[bluewater]

By red-line I mean actions that would compel the US and NATO to act and directly confront Russia in Ukraine.

Is there a level of barbarity against the men, women and children of Ukraine that we would simply not tolerate and would use our own overwhelming military might to stop?

Honest question.

Any and all responses greatly appreciated.

[PoliticAverse]

1. No one knows where it is for sure until it is crossed. n/t

[Ocelot II]

2. We don't know. There is a lot we don't know.

There are public announcements which you can find in many sources, including NATO's web site, but undoubtedly there are back-channel communications to which the public is not and should not be privy, but through which Putin might have been made aware of exactly what the consequences of his actions will be.

[bottrott]

3. Short of nuke/bio/chem

use, I doubt sheer barbarity will move NATO without massive public outcry over inaction.

[NCDem47]

5. My thoughts exactly.

Clear documented use of weapons of mass destruction.

[Volaris]

12. Agreed, BUT ALSO a limited Chem strike would get a pass...

A biological attack would get a slightly stronger letter of reproach, but if they flip a tactical nuke over the border, putin will have his govt crushed in very short order.

[SoonerPride]

4. The NYT reported on this yesterday.

Use of nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine would most likely trigger NATO involvement.

NYT: U.S. Makes Contingency Plans in Case Russia Uses Its Most Powerful Weapons

The White House has quietly assembled a team of national security officials to sketch out scenarios of how the United States and its allies should respond if President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — frustrated by his lack of progress in Ukraine or determined to warn Western nations against intervening in the war — unleashes his stockpiles of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

The Tiger Team, as the group is known, is also examining responses if Mr. Putin reaches into NATO territory to attack convoys bringing weapons and aid to Ukraine, according to several officials involved in the process. Meeting three times a week, in classified sessions, the team is also looking at responses if Russia seeks to extend the war to neighboring nations, including Moldova and Georgia, and how to prepare European countries for the refugees flowing in on a scale not seen in decades.

Those contingencies are expected to be central to an extraordinary session here in Brussels on Thursday, when President Biden meets leaders of the 29 other NATO nations, who will be meeting for the first time — behind closed doors, their cellphones and aides banished — since Mr. Putin invaded Ukraine.

Just a month ago, such scenarios seemed more theoretical. But today, from the White House to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, a recognition has set in that Russia may turn to the most powerful weapons in its arsenal to bail itself out of a military stalemate.

More at the link

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/us/politics/biden-russia-nuclear-weapons.html?referringSource=articleShare

[Torchlight]

6. NATO's involvement in Bosnia

began with only declarations of support.

What followed with steadily increasing pressure was direct action compliance, search and seizure of shipping and cargo, and insertion of NATO troops.

The Dayton Accords ending the war were the direct results a large scale bombing operation of Serb targets by NATO aircraft in the summer and into autumn of '95.

[abqtommy]

7. Thanks for this reminder. It's my thought that Putin already knows he's crossed a red line

due to the massive political and material support that's been pouring into Ukraine.
The Ukraine supporters are already in it and we aren't going to blink and roll over for
Pooty.

[Torchlight]

11. I think Putin believes the only Red Line is crossing borders

or using nuclear/chemical/bio weapons.

I think he still believes that as long as he keeps the conflict geographically contained to Ukraine and possesses numerical superiority, he calls the shots.

I think we're all standing on a knife's edge, and Putin is the only one to make the choice of drawing down, or watching what was two-months ago a back-water news-story become the defining conflict of his country's demise as a world nation.

[Kaleva]

8. Serbia didn't have nukes

[Torchlight]

10. I made no argument nor implication it did

Merely provided some relevant precedent.

[Kaleva]

13. A relevant precedent is NATO taking on a nuclear power

[sarcasmo]

9. Chemical weapons will bring hell fire down on Russia.