"The DoD has no comment on remarks supposedly made by a private citizen to a Russian news outlet."
A retired colonel? Who gives a shit what a has-been nobody from a 20 year old administration has to say? What, are they going to do, interview me next for expert testimony on Canada because I carry a hockey stick?
It's not like Russia needs permission to attack NATO anyway, Putin just needs to decide if he wants it or not and can figure out whatever justification he desires.
Interesting idea! Since everyone in the city was a sports fan and participated in the riots, and of course everyone participating in the riots was from the city, it totally makes sense.
Paywall bypass: https://archive.is/N7nOK
(Posting a link to a wikipedia article about a browser extension to bypass paywalls doesn't help people using an app.)