Baltics Want NATO ‘Safeguard’ if Ukraine Situation Worsens

[okaawhatever]

23. There were several things happening during the next year or two that would have put NATO and

European countries in a better position to deal with Russia both militarily and financially. The US and N African countries are close to being able to export Liquefied Natural Gas which will lessen the stranglehold on Russia's imports to EU countries. The missile defense shield. Georgia was ready to sign an EU agreement, even sending the government officials to Washington DC to ask for support against Russian aggression close to the time they do.
In Ukraine, they had just signed gas exploration deals with Dutch Shell and Exxon to develop their own gas fields, again not just taking money from Russia for the actual gas, but removing the noose Russia's had around the neck of Ukraine regarding energy. Ukraine also signed deals with two oil companies for oil exploration in the Black Sea.
Signing the EU agreement would have forced the Ukraine government and state owned gas company and pipelines to be more transparent about their deals with Russia and other countries. Putin wasn't about to let that happen.