We give Russia what it wants if NATO sends troops.

[boston bean]

We also give Russia what it wants if we don’t.

Hmmmmmm…..

[elleng]

1. putin does whatever he wants, regardless of what others do.

[KPN]

2. Well then, might as well send troops.

[Karadeniz]

3. In that case, one chooses to help the good and oppose the evil, no matter what it takes. People

are going to suffer and die, no matter which of the above choice is made. Better to save those we can and show that an evildoer will not be willy-nilly allowed to expand his terroristic ambitions.

[pecosbob]

4. What Putin wants or what Russia wants?

IMO if NATO actively engages Russian troops Putin will be out of office within a week. I also think it likely he would release one or more nukes were NATO to engage Russian troops. For the record, I don't think the Russians want the sanctions they are getting now, nor would they like tens of thousands of Russian war dead that a NATO attack would bring so I can't concur with the OP's premise.

[Ray Bruns]

5. Given the performance of the Russian army in the past five or six weeks

I don't think Putin is eager to start a shooting war with NATO.