Article content continued

But, no matter how you gussy it up, sending troops to Ukraine is a dramatic escalation of the mission to contain Vladimir Putin. Canada has imposed economic sanctions, supported Kiev financially and is providing radar satellite images to help the Ukrainians track Russian troop movements.

This country has also been very active in Operation Reassurance, providing air cover over the Baltic states, troops on joint exercises in Poland and a frigate in the Black Sea.

But none of these theatres are being shelled by the Russian army.

This is a Rubicon that will be difficult to re-cross.

The move, when it comes, is likely to be popular in the country, which is, in part, why the Conservatives are being so bellicose.

“We’ll be doing more later this year in NATO exercises, all of which is designed to send a message to Russia that Canada, together with our NATO allies, stands with our eastern European friends against any intimidation or territorial aggression on the part of Vladimir Putin,” said Mr. Kenney.

Canadians know instinctively that Mr. Putin will only be contained if the West makes his ambition of re-uniting the Russian-speaking diaspora from Lithuania to Ukraine too expensive. An article by psychologist Ian H. Robertson suggests Mr. Putin’s contempt for the weakness of the West, his lack of empathy and his fear of losing power means that he does not feel bound by the normal rules of civility. He uses the 2005 example, where Mr. Putin saw a diamond-studded SuperBowl ring on the finger of Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. He asked to see the $25,000 ring, tried it on, then put it in his pocket and left the room.