NATO would already crush Russia in a purely conventional war several times over. However, posturing can be a lot cheaper than conflict.

Unfortunately it takes both (all?) sides to keep a war conventional.

We know that England and France would have crushed Hitler in 1937.

Sadly war is influenced by politics and when people want peace at any price dictators can get away with setting the world on fire.

With the new Trump admin, it would seem more feasible for Russia to go nuclear early. Unless the UK and France decide to step in, I doubt the the US nuclear umbrella would be in effect after 1/20

>NATO would already crush Russia in a purely conventional war several times over. However,

.....no nato country (or alliance therein) wants to deal with the shitshow that would follow, immediately- or longterm, afterwards.