Will: Putin's goal is to break up NATO

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Putin’s Vengeance: Break up NATO

on Special Report Friday Syndicated columnist George Will said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal is to break up NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal in annexing Crimea is to break up NATO, syndicated columnist and Fox News contributor George Will said Friday on “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

Earlier Friday, Putin signed a bill officially making Crimea a part of Russia, calling it a “remarkable event.” And while Putin’s troops have been gathering along the Ukrainian border, President Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, said she was not sure if the situation was about to escalate.

“The president's national security adviser says she will not speculate about our adversary's motives. I don't know how you can conduct foreign policy on a blank like that,” Will said.

“It seems to me if you listen to Putin’s language and watch his body language, it's obvious that he is having the time of his life and he thinks he is winning. And I think he has three objectives and he hasn't even achieved his minimal one yet.

“His minimal objective is to make sure that no part of the Ukraine is associated formally or informally with Western Europe or the European Union. That's not done yet and I'm not sure he thinks he can achieve that without occupying the rest of the Ukraine,” Will said.

“His medium term objective is to gather in Russians who are outside Russia right now. Seventeen percent of the Baltic states are outside Russia right now. And that brings us to his maximum vengeance - and this is a man motivated by vengeance - it would be to break up NATO.”