Bob Gates: Even if We Had Provided More Weapons to Ukraine Earlier, Putin Would Still Invade

EXCERPT:

GATES: "I think that the only -- only thing we could have done earlier that might have had an impact was to provide more weapons earlier to the Ukrainians. But I don't think -- we just can’t underestimate his obsession with Ukraine and his determination to bring Ukraine back under the Russian umbrella and -- and as a -- as a colony, if you will, of Russia itself. He’s been determined to take Ukraine back for a long time at this point if we look back at his speeches and the things he said. So, my -- my bet would be even if we had done more to help Ukraine earlier in terms of their defenses, I think he would have acted anyway. He is determined to bring Ukraine back."