The West made an implied promise to Russia that it would dissolve the blocs system of the Cold War. Instead, Russians have watched the West steadily encroach on its borders. And if the West is free to do whatever it wants, of course the Russians are entitled to do the same. Brussels can’t have it both ways. If there is to be a common European home - the Cold War bloc system will have to be dismantled. But the West is proceeding in its own way and so will Russia. And this is not due to Putin. No Russian leader will ever accept NATO encirclement.
Once both sides know for 100% sure they neither will actually use nuclear weapons... those weapons become completely irrelevant. And without a nuclear deterrent... there is NOTHING the west can do to stop Russia.
Europe long ago gutted it military to prop up their failing welfare systems, depending on the US nuclear deterrent, which is no longer a deterrent.
Russia will now take whatever it wishes, and China next, while we will sit here and be unable to do anything. But on the bright side, we will have Obamacare!
*sigh*
Russia is weak no longer. It is clear that Putin has been prepared for a long time to act in defense of Russian interests. The EU and the US engineered a coup in Ukraine by putting into power the worst set of thugs they could dredge up, and forced Putin’s hand. Putin’s moves will be studied as decisive actions of leadership by generations to come. His game plan was brilliant, nearly flawless.