The Importance of Strategic Depth in Russia's Foreign Policy

If the US had been less strident in encouraging, let's say, Eastern European countries to join NATO, that would have lessened Russian aggression? I think that really is sort of the logical linchpin, right? No, I don't think it would have made any difference. As soon as Russia got over the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was going to start pushing out into Eastern Europe because that's what it's always done with its foreign policy. Maybe it changes the tactics and things like that, but it wouldn't have changed Russia's imperative. It's not in the slightest.