Front-line NATO countries will be staring down a 'battle-hardened Russia' able to more easily strike if Ukraine falls, war analyst warns

• If Ukraine loses to Russia, NATO forces would face an emboldened Russian military, war experts say.
• Ukraine's defeat may lead Russia to become a greater military risk, potentially driving toward NATO borders.
• If Ukraine wins though, it could make it more challenging for Russia to threaten the alliance.

If Ukraine loses to Russia, NATO countries could consequently find themselves facing an emboldened, "battle-hardened" Russian army with a clearer path to war, an analyst argues.