The new USSR

Biden announced the sanctions against Putin and they are weak. He sanctioned two banks that were already sanctioned by Obama in 2014 and he said he would not support the new gas line from Russia to Germany but that was not set to open until this coming summer. Putin could take the eastern part of Ukraine and stop and everyone would be okay and he may very well do that. Then he could move into Belarus and do the same thing and adding that to his incursion into Georgia and his taking of Crimea he has set the stage for further moves in the future. Next would be taking back Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. He would be well on his way of reunited the old Soviet Union which is his ultimate goal. He can do all of that without taking any NATO country. He may even decide to take Finland. From the standpoint of the west most people, particularly in the US, would not intervene.