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Putin had been demanding pullbacks from NATO in ex-Soviet satellite states that had joined the organization, this is America's crisis too

But it is almost certain that Washington will have to send troops back to bolster its European allies and to bases they began to leave 30 years ago.

The Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia look suddenly vulnerable and, unlike Ukraine, are NATO members the US is treaty bound to defend.

There is also the possibility of a US-funded insurgency in Ukraine, raising the risky prospect of a new proxy war between Washington and Moscow.