It depends on the definition of “wants”. For sure there is a hierarchy of aims: Crimea, if that goes good, left-bank Ukraine, if that goes good, all the way to Galicia. Same as with any conqueror. The Brezhnev’s doctrine was that anywhere where the Soviet dictate once spread, it must remain.
"Crimea, if that goes good, left-bank Ukraine, if that goes good, all the way to Galicia.Very long term, maybe. Given the fact that he'd be a fool not to take advantage of an idiot like Barry coming along, Putin's been surprisingly pragmatic by taking little bites.
". . . anywhere where the Soviet dictate once spread, it must remain."
Which is the same thing Mooze Lames think and one of the main reasons why I think Putin is being so pragmatic. He knows there will have to be a showdown with Is Lame and knows he needs European support at least to the extent that Europe won't be in any hurry to take advantage of his anti-Is Lame efforts.
I see your point and what others are saying, I just have a different read I guess. Mostly because all things considered, Putin has been a right docile puppy. Compare what he's been up to and what any and all US democrat fascists have been willing to jump into in order to divert attention from anything from their domestic problems.
"Arab Spring" knitting so much into the empire Barry swears allegiance to is at the very least as bad as Putin munching on the whole Ukraine and a heck of a lot worse than his snatching the Crimea for an Easter egg.
Then again, it's a long time until 2016 and maybe Putin was caught unprepared, so to speak, if he thought Barry would be a one term ditz like Carter was. IOW, a second term for Barry was an unexpected and therefore unplanned for opportunity.