[81alum]

The US realized that letting Russia break the rule-based system of international relations would be a very serious blow to the world and to the US in particular. Unfortunately it appears that we have, yet again, abjectly failed to accomplish our mission.

Agreed.  

Ukraine's fall, should it happen, dramatically increases the odds that China will invade and conquer Taiwan.  Taiwan knows this.  If I were Taiwan I would be accelerating a nuclear weapons program.  In fact, my guess is that many countries are doing just that, given how unreliable an ally America has become.

Imagine what position Ukraine would be in if they had not given up their nuclear weapons.  For that matter, there has been some journalism suggesting that Ukraine could develop rudimentary nuclear capability within months.  They do have seven tons of plutonium.
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-uk...-0ddjrs5hw
Given recent developments, why not?  I almost think that Zelensky would be derelict in duty if he were not attempting to get his hands on a nuclear weapon. 

I am not an international relations expert, but it seems to me that the risk of the proliferation and use of nuclear weapons has dramatically increased over the last few weeks.

[81alum]

The US realized that letting Russia break the rule-based system of international relations would be a very serious blow to the world and to the US in particular. Unfortunately it appears that we have, yet again, abjectly failed to accomplish our mission.

Agreed.  

Ukraine's fall, should it happen, dramatically increases the odds that China will invade and conquer Taiwan.  Taiwan knows this.  If I were Taiwan I would be accelerating a nuclear weapons program.  In fact, my guess is that many countries are doing just that, given how unreliable an ally America has become.

Imagine what position Ukraine would be in if they had not given up their nuclear weapons.  For that matter, there has been some journalism suggesting that Ukraine could develop rudimentary nuclear capability within months.  They do have seven tons of plutonium.
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-uk...-0ddjrs5hw
Given recent developments, why not?  I almost think that Zelensky would be derelict in duty if he were not attempting to get his hands on a nuclear weapon. 

I am not an international relations expert, but it seems to me that the risk of the proliferation and use of nuclear weapons has dramatically increased over the last few weeks.