> Russia will be emboldened to continue into Moldova (because who cares about Moldova), and then on to the Baltics, the Balkans, Poland and possibly Finland.

BS. All Baltics and Poland are already NATO members. And even USSR didn't manage to annex any of Poland, Finland, or any of the Balkans. No way today's Russia can do that. They have neither the political or military clout of the USSR.

And Moldova, while a feasible target, you said it yourself: who cares (strategically)? It's a poor, landlocked country.