And, given that Russia may well have much better human intelligence on NATO than NATO has on Russia, Russia may have a heads up days before and then hours before the event. And Russian vehicles and personnel could well push physically right past lightly armed NATO airborn units in any case without firing shots. Would NATO then fire the first shots against a superior force backed by armor and air power? And in eastern Ukraine it would likely be NATO troops that would need protection from angry mobs of civilians. And what reason do you have to believe that the Ukraonian military either would remain neutral, split or not side with Russia vs. NATO?

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."