What if they invite Russia to join NATO?
This is basically what Putin and Merkel wanted, a free trade zone from Vladivostok to Lisbon and some sort of alliance between NATO and Russia to fight common enemies.
But there's 3 main problems.
- Putin wants it to happen on 'equal' terms for 'his side', which means all of the eastern block at once on Russia's terms or no one at all (the EU prefers to do it step by step)
- The US doesn't like the idea as it would undermine their favorite weapon of choice: sanctions. And the EU wouldn't demand regime change (remember that Yanukovich started the process for Ukraine).
- For Europe NATO is supposed to be the military alliance and the EU is the political body. But NATO has become more political in its decision making and the EU wants to have an army of its own
The US wants NATO to be more of a political tool rather than just a deterrent and they want a bigger commitment from its members to act in unity as long as the US is carrying most of the costs.
A crisis like this used to be a boon for NATO but now only increases support for an EU army instead. One that doesn't necessarily answer to NATO and by extension the US.
And finally the biggest irony is of course that even though the Americans complain that Europe doesn't want to pay for its own security, countries like France and Germany don't necessarily think the type of 'security' the Americans offer against Russia is necessary.
As they've long stopped believing that Russia would attempt a land invasion past Kiev and all NATO needs to do is secure the border with Poland and the Baltics. They think it's more important that NATO can respond to an international crisis with a mobile and aircraft carrier force than defend national borders they prefer to remove entirely.
