Russia threatens 'military and political consequences' if Finland, Sweden try joining NATO

[harumph]

9. They've been placed in a corner by Putin himself.

They will join NATO. He's lost his mind - I think - brought
on by this rapidly deteriorating situation. His troops don't want
to fire on their Ukrainian cousins. They'll go through the motions -
but half-heartedly. I think he knows he overstepped badly, and
is feeling something he hasn't before: fear. Fear that his
oligarch colleagues will turn on him.