Or a pretext for invasion.

Edit: imagine a quote from a Russian ambassador to Ukraine 15 years ago -- "I'm disappointed that I came to Ukraine — a Ukraine that it is very, very difficult to find Ukrainians who are passionate about the Russian-Ukrainian relationship".

Edit 2: The Beaverton hits the nail on the head - https://www.thebeaverton.com/2025/09/us-ambassador-threatens-to-tariff-annex-and-bomb-canada-if-anti-american-sentiment-doesnt-improve/

This is not for us it's for their base. It's a manipulation tactic designed to rile up support for attacking Canada eventually.