[hermgem]

Putin starts building an oil pipeline through the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland and the Baltic States, to make them dependent on Russia's graces.
That's apparently not enough to again impose Russia's whims upon them and is followed up with threats.
Putin hedges these grand plans of being the centerpiece of Europe, using oil and gas as leverage.
Anything even coming close to association with the U.S. is stamped a threat to Russia.
Both Poland, the Baltic's and Czechs have sufficient leftover memories about "Russian diplomacy" to make them feel ill just thinking about Putin's KGB and a Russia under a manipulating Putin.

[M. Espinola]

Russia has invaded Poland and then enslaved her, plus all the former Soviet Captive Nations. Eastern European countries must have strong defenses against future Russian aggression.