Compelling. Where did they get those taped telephone conversations? Many respected US academics believe that Putin has been pushed up against a wall by what he feels is a drive to put NATO on his doorstep. He apparently became disillusioned by the lack of reciprocity in his dealings with West, which made him angry and might explain his more recent foreign policy stance (eg Syria). But I think this is a geopolitical game of chess, as the Ukraine has no natural resources, and presents no terrorist threat. Energy, however, passes through it from Russia to Europe, which might explain Europe’s hesitance.

Crimea is the elephant in the room. It is an autonomous region within the Ukraine, originally inhabited by Tartars who are Turkic people. The country really belongs to them if anyone. It wasn’t that long ago that Crimea was a part of Russia, and it’s strategic importance can’t be that great (IMHO) since whoever controls the Bosphorous, controls the Black Sea. If most of the inhabitants side with Russia, they won’t give Ukraine an easy time if it remains part of the Ukraine. So why would they want it?

It’s ironic that the influx of eastern Europeans into western Europe has given rise to nationalist parties in the latter.