He wanted Crimea, he took Crimea. If he wanted Southeast Ukraine I believe he'd have taken that, too. It looks like he's playing along now waiting until just the right moment to split the US and EU apart.
People need get past the Stalin BS and think through what having a Russian Metternich playing a major role in Europe means.
We're not ever going to be the sort of ally Europeans want when it comes to putting stability above all else but Russia will be more than happy to join that sort of agreement. The US, OTOH, can't be trusted to not recognize whichever mob they think they can manipulate rather than standing by the existing government. They might recognize a band of thugs in Poland and other East European States just like they recognized the thugs in Kiev and you better believe countries are taking note of that fact just like they're taking notes on what Putin does.
It's all about Europeans once again being afraid of rebellions and coups. Such things are an attractive tool until they blowup in your face and the Kiev coup has definitely not worked out the way the EU expected their golden kiddies in Kiev to work out.
Having arrangements define the boundaries of various countries influence with Russia as a partner in halting this sort of thing (from the mob takeover to however this ends) in the future is a very tempting idea to the nations of Europe.
Not everyone in Europe is so blind they don't see the problems that are brewing from decades of Muzzie immigration. Nor are they stupid enough to bank on the US changing the way we cater to Muzzies anytime soon.
JMHO
A good post, Rashputin :-)
The Eastern Ukraine needs to think—will they be better off with Kiev or Moscow? Will the mines be opened? pay better? Will their be more wealth under Putin than Kiev? At least they can speak Russian again without getting in trouble, and their children will be taught in Russian. Russia will be putting gas lines in and opening up opportunities—maybe their kids can go to Russian Universities?
“Russians” does not refer to Putin, but Russophones in Ukraine. The West is claiming DOnbas residents don’t want to secede. If they believe they have better cards, they should call, and allow a reliable referendum.