I guess this was what Obama was talking about when he said he’d be more “flexible” in his second term, although it may be Ukraine that is getting bent over.
Think of the timing of all of this. Springtime: Take Crimea. Early summer: Shoot down a passenger plane to distract all the hand wringers. Late summer: Invade eastern Ukraine. Fall: publish some bullshit history of the region you are now occupying.
Mix in some cyber bank hacking and a little support for ISIS to keep everyone busy, just for good measure.
Then a full two years of Obama's term left to make yourself comfortable, perhaps wrangling back a Baltic country or two, or slipping into Poland to have a look around.
And no one to stop you.