Bombing and cruise missile attacks on children, maternity facilities and residential areas are generating a fast-growing civilian death toll and seem to only embolden Russian war planners resolve to press forward with efforts to destroy and take over Ukraine.
While the Russian military leaders show little to no hesitation when it comes to the escalation of military force, there may be a few reasons why Putin and the Russian leadership might just think twice before confronting NATO.
While perhaps operating with little more than pure “self-preservation,” Putin may indeed be extremely reluctant to go to war with the West.
A cursory look at force size and capability comparisons between Russia and NATO would seem to suggest that Russia simply could not compete with the US and NATO in the air.