To be clear, I do draw a very clear distinction between NATO allies and non-allies. For NATO allies, it has to be absolute: we will defend each other. For non-allies, I think it is fair to say that we have an interest in their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and that we will provide assistance to them because we believe that provides for the long-term stability and security of Europe.
In order for the second part of that to be credible, and to have a deterrent effect—which is the second part, defence for the allies and deter Russian aggression elsewhere—we have to have some pieces on the table. At the moment we really don't. We have started to put a few in place, but not many.
Putin has quite substantial pieces on the table: tens of thousands of troops on the eastern border of Ukraine, special operations forces in Crimea and probably now in eastern Ukraine as well. So he has a lot out there. What we need to do on the political level, and we have to mean it if we say it, is make clear that we are not indifferent to further territorial aggression by Russia and that we reserve a right to respond.
Also, we need to put in place the forces that would be necessary to make that threat credible, which is why I suggested a ground exercise in Poland or in Romania, some additional air defence assets, perhaps in the Baltic States or Romania. A naval exercise with Romania was already planned. We could extend that. We could put a number of things on the table surrounding the area to show that we have some capability.
The other thing I would do is give immediate and substantial assistance to the Ukrainian military and Ministry of Defence so that they are in a better position to fight back against Russia, which would raise the costs to Russia in direct terms. This would be Ukrainians fighting for their own territory to a point that might cause Russia to pause. And if such a conflict did break out because Russia did go further and invade Ukraine, I think we'd have to then discuss what further steps we would want to take to provide additional assistance to Ukraine.