Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
People are overcomplicating this.
Putin, a former KGB agent and current premier of the Russian Federation is on record as saying that the dissolution of the USSR is the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. (I can think of at least two that I consider more "tragic") He is a de facto dictator, he controls the press, he remains in power due to sham elections and of course, he has been known to eliminate opposition. Now he has to try to maintain this grip on power with a "sister country" right on his doorstep that has a democratically elected government, a free press and an enlightened electorate. Must be a pain in the arse. Putin chooses to see peace, freedom and democracy as a threat. He has brought war to central Europe as a result. No matter what happens in Ukraine in the short term, he's played himself. This will not end well for him.