From the Heritage Foundation, I'm Tim Dessher, and this is Heritage Explains.

We all remember seeing trains with tanks, armored vehicles, and weapons loaded on them,

and then seeing some 100,000 Russian troops being stationed right at the eastern Ukrainian border.

It was like a scene from a movie. Since then, the tanks and armored vehicles have been unloaded from the trains, and the

Russian soldiers are using the weapons for military drills and exercises.

A lot's happened, and the narrative is still the same.

Will Russia invade Ukraine?

A military standoff and a diplomatic deadlock.

Almost two months since Russia began mustering troops on the Ukrainian border, the situation

remains as tense as ever.

With negotiations stalling between Russia and the West, the Pentagon has placed 8,500 troops

on high alert in case NATO decides to deploy.

These troops are ready to support NATO states surrounding Ukraine.

But is asking the question of whether or not Russia invades Ukraine, really the question to ask?

Perhaps we should instead be looking at the Biden administration and their weak posture on the world stage and how Putin is taking advantage of it.

To demonstrate, here's an awkward exchange between Savannah Guthrie and Vice President

Kamala Harris on the Today Show.

On the subject of Ukraine, I will tell you that the president has been very clear, and we as the United States are very clear.

If Putin takes aggressive action, we are prepared to levy serious and severe costs, period.

It's less than clear because 30 minutes after the news conference, the White House Press Secretary had to actually clarify the president's remarks.

Savannah, I'm being clear with you right now.

Yes, okay.

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