Because NATO (for most key decisions) works by full consensus, adding new members (a process which involved Turkey and Hungary using their leverage for concessions, especially Turkey) does not substantially reduce the leverage of existing members (this is also why Russia's bid to move to the front of the line and be admitted ahead of other Easter European applicants, without a readiness process--the real root, not the fact of expansion into Eastern Europe, of Putin's resentment against NATO--was rejected.)

Can you explain what project is unwinding? It looks to me like Europe is still coming together to resist the danger of Russian invasion. For Nuland, it looks like she had a long career, she had many good roles, she championed protecting Ukraine and there was only one other position for to be promoted to and they promoted someone else. So that seems like a perfect time to leave after a successful career.

In Ukraine, Zelensky purged his military leadership amid significant battlefield defeats including the dysfunctional retreat from the stronghold of Avdiivka. The situation is very unstable and the worst time for influential players like Nuland to retreat from power. It suggests a collapse of the entire project.

Retreating gives more benefits to Ukraine.

If you think anything is defeated, you should look at the facts ( eg. Airplanes downed in the last weeks). Which seems to be more significant to me while f16's are on the way.

Retreating is not defeating :)

Oh boy, by that account Russia should be in rubbles a year ago. Putin even had to kill off his caterer turned warlord, who staged a mutiny and marched with 5k mercenaries on Moscow and the rest of the country just stood by and watched the show.

Victoria Nuland is a red flag. Conspiracy theorists are obsessed with her for some reason. Whenever she is brought up, I stop listening. She's not that important.

What a strange and misleading comment. Nuland is obviously very important and influential in Washington and around the world. She's part of the Kagan family and has been in the State Department for decades, across 6 presidents. Secretary Blinken wrote her a long send-off letter. She just met with senior leadership in Kiev last month.

"She's not that important" = pure gaslighting. She's as important as anyone in Washington and her sudden abdication of power is a significant event.

Conspiracy theories see things when things aren't there.

She had a political career for 30 years and she claimed to retire.

Did you consider that she perhaps just wants to retire? NATO has all the new ( and strong) members that wanted to join.

Seems like a good time like any other to me, additionally she's 63.

Passed the smell test for me.

> Conspiracy theories see things when things aren't there

Exactly. They make outrageously evidence-free statements like "Victoria Nuland isn't important".