Russia suggests next targets could be three US states and two NATO countries

[honorentheos]

Two words for Shades: Paul Wolfowitz.

[Morley]

Two words for Shades: Paul Wolfowitz.

You're overly optimistic.

[Dr Exiled]

Putin himself may have tried to distance himself recently from having any designs on regaining Alaska, or any other U.S. states, but I doubt that he would be seriously adverse to the idea if it became any way plausible, . . .

What are the chances that it becomes even remotely plausible for Putin to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Next to none, unless we implode due to internal problems and even then it is doubtful. Mearsheimer is turning out to be correct here. https://www.mearsheimer.com/

[Gunnar]

Putin himself may have tried to distance himself recently from having any designs on regaining Alaska, or any other U.S. states, but I doubt that he would be seriously adverse to the idea if it became any way plausible, . . .

What are the chances that it becomes even remotely plausible for Putin to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Admittedly next to none, but I agree with Doc Cam that you are missing the point, which is that Putin is irremediably determined to expand Russian-controlled territory and his despotic political power by any means and to any extent possible. This is what makes him a danger to us and the rest of world and why his ambitions must be thwarted by any practical means. I think he is potentially more dangerous than even Hitler ever was, especially considering the fact that he controls what is probably the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons.

[Res Ipsa]

My understanding is that the Soviet Government encouraged ethnic Russians to migrate to other Republics in the Union. That gives Putin an excuse to reclaim the entirety of the old USSR.

[Dr. Shades]

What are the chances that it becomes even remotely plausible for Putin to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

I think you’re missing the point entirely. The political scientist’s views are based on Russian irredentism:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_irredentism

This can actually be traced back to when the Muscovites shook off Mongol rule and began a sort of pan-slavic era wherein slavs, over the course of time, developed nationalistic tendencies, which included expansionism. Dugin, who I’ve mentioned many times on this board, tapped into this ‘lost era’ and deep cultural zeitgeist of Russian exceptionalism, manifest destiny, and rule over lands once held. Putin obviously supports these notions.

Great! What are the chances of Russian irredentism leading to the takeover of Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Two words for Shades: Paul Wolfowitz.

What are the chances of Paul Wolfowitz allowing Putin to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

What are the chances that it becomes even remotely plausible for Putin to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Admittedly next to none, but I agree with Doc Cam that you are missing the point, which is that Putin is irremediably determined to expand Russian-controlled territory and his despotic political power by any means and to any extent possible.

What are the chances that Putin's irremediable determination to expand Russian-controlled territory allows him to take over Alaska or any other U.S. states?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Dr. Shades, I still don’t think you get the point. Mikhail Mikheyev is an assistant to Dmitry Medvedev. This kind of rhetoric is just fascism, a sort of Make Russia Great Again (MRGA) to whip up public support for Russian aggression to re-expand its sphere of influence it feels like it lost. It speaks to a deeper philosophy the Muscovite political machine has that is rooted in exceptionalism, nationalism, and so forth. Obviously they wouldn’t be able to hold any territory they took from us, but that’s not the point of Mikhail Mikheyev’s rhetoric. The point was to evoke in the Muscovite psyche an era in which Russia was a state that, at one time or another, held territory from Berlin to California.

This MRGA mentality is what's driving the war on Ukraine and if not stopped, will lead to further expansion on their historical claims.

- Doc

[Dr. Shades]

This MRGA mentality is what's driving the war on Ukraine and if not stopped, will lead to further expansion on their historical claims.

What are the odds that this MRGA mentality and its leading to further expansion on their historical claims will allow it to take Alaska or any other U.S. states?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

This MRGA mentality is what's driving the war on Ukraine and if not stopped, will lead to further expansion on their historical claims.

What are the odds that this MRGA mentality and its leading to further expansion on their historical claims will allow it to take Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Now? Zero. If the US goes through a balkanization phase? Depends on how the lines are laid down. They already own the GOP, so it’s a non-zero chance. But, again, you’re either not understanding what I’m trying to say, or you’re not acknowledging it.

Whatevs.

- Doc

[Dr. Shades]

What are the odds that this MRGA mentality and its leading to further expansion on their historical claims will allow it to take Alaska or any other U.S. states?

Now? Zero.

Thank you for finally answering my question.

But, again, you’re either not understanding what I’m trying to say, or you’re not acknowledging it.

I both understand and acknowledge what you’re trying to say. It isn’t rocket science by any means. But my main (nay, only) goal was to obtain an answer to my question, since the OP believes it’s a likely occurrence.