the necessary resources to carry a greater share of the burden of preserving our continent's security. and to demonstrate that we are in it for the long haul. for now, we should continue to do everything we can to pursue the path of peace and dialogue. there is a way forward, if president putin is minded to take it. there is a discussion to be had about the threats that he claims to see, because in reality as we all know, those threats are an illusion. they are the product of the kremlin�*s chronic but misguided view of nato as a supposedly encircling an intimidating alliance. that is not nato�*s function, nato is a peaceful and defensive alliance. and we are willing to work with president putin to demonstrate that point and to give him the assurances that he may need. we could point out that he may need. we could point out that until he invaded ukraine for the first time in 2014, nato did not