notably belarus still a client state of it russia. we will learn more about why they are significant because ever thage not around after the soviet union fell obviously. nato came about after the end of world war ii. nato has expanded since then. that's what vladimir putin claims is a threat to his existence. meant to hold back soviet expansion. the one entity that has expanded nato expanded. this is what vladimir putin looked at in 2004 into the baltic states into he is stonia, latvia and lithuania on the border of russia. what vladimir putin is claiming right now is should ukraine attempt to join nato which they have put in an application for, that would be right on russia's doorstep. so,. >> steve: he wants a buffer. >> he wants a buffer. right now traditionally nato has been centered in the western part of europe.