is a product of neglect. neil: you pointed out this is on the border of russia. they ve been looking at becoming a nato member. vladimir putin mentioned that yesterday, that that would not ever fly with him. is there any thought you give to background conversations as long as you promise never to join nato? friends with the west is one thing but don t join nato. the agreement that nato nations have amongst themselves that if attacked, they all attack. i m wondering how this nato thing figures in to this. well, the nato narrative is the one that vladimir putin himself has created for propaganda purposes. ukraine has no chance of joining nato. it takes unanimous consent. france and germany are a long ways off from giving it.