[Gay State Conservative]

Same old Soviet Union,new "pet friendlier" face.

[Sir_Ed]

That’s okay, I’m sure the Strong-Man loving sycophants here on Freep would LOVE to have Putin take over all of Eastern Europe again, then, who knows...maybe he’ll make the trains run of time!

Ed

[Always A Marine]

10. Putin confirms that annexation of Crimea was provoked by fears of NATO’s eastward expansion.
"When infrastructures of a military bloc approaches towards our borders, then it provokes some fears and questions... Of course, first of all, it was the support of residents of Crimea, but also some thoughts that if we do nothing at some moment based on the same principles, Ukraine will be dragged into NATO and we will be told: 'This is not you business' – and NATO ships will stay is Sevastopol, city of Russian maritime glory."

This is the point I've been making since the Russians annexed Crimea. Putin would have been derelict had he not protected Russia's strategic naval and air bases there. It was a defensive move on Russia's part, reacting the West-aided coup against his duly-elected ally in Kiev.