But it's really hard to show Putin as a good global citizen.
Everything they do is to either exacerbate problems for the US or anyone that criticizes them, or to form alliances against the same foes as a force multiplier.
That is why they are publicly stoking up their defiance as they move their pawns on the board because they are playing from a relatively weak position.
It impresses the gullible, ticks off the strong, but the goal is attention, even though negative. Much in the same vain as N.Korea and China or the schoolyard bully.
If all the response is talk and a few sanctions, then the board is clear to make more moves because it's unlikely that the response would be any more costly then it is today.
They will just raise the gas prices..oil production and tax levy’s..
They have the next two years to get a lot done without much of a response except that of the rhetorical flourish variety. After that, it's anyone’s guess but much less predictable.
keeping in mind that they are on the security counsel. The UN, which is the usual route to bring accusations, will continue to be feckless,
Russia has been a reliable ally against Islamic extremism, allowing Western access to central Asian staging areas. Russia warned the US about the Boston bombers a year before the attack, and talked the US out of starting another war in Syria. It has been a reliable partner in the ongoing international space station and other areas of important scientific research. It has also been a reliable supplier of energy to much of Europe and rocket engines to the US. It has tried to orient itself toward the West in financial, security, and legal matters.
Perhaps as importantly, is what Russia hasn't done. It hasn't caused mayhem in the Middle East and North Africa, it didn't cause the global financial meltdown, and quite frankly it has acted with remarkable restraint against overt Western meddling in the Ukraine.
Maybe its time for the West to face up to the failures of its own government, business, and social structures, and stop casting about for Russian scape goats.