>Russian control of Ukraine would be a major threat to their security that has to be averted if at all possible.
I don’t see Russia or Poland crossing the Dnieper. I’m guessing that Russia takes the east side and Poland takes the west as a protectorate, while Russia demands no missiles or other materiel of war be placed on the west side of Ukraine.
Russia doesn’t get a voice on the NATO council so they can shove their demands right up their Putin.
What’s up with this 19th Century protectorate talk?
Single powers don’t do protectorates anymore, and haven’t for almost 100 years. They do mutual partner alliances at best.
Ukraine will just be a smaller country.
Quite plausible, except for the part about the west portion of Ukraine being demilitarized. That is the equivalent of the bear saying, “Leave the rest on the table. I will be hungry again soon.”