The flower of Russian youth is buried in Crimea and Ukraine. The Russians sacrificed enormously to defeat the Germans. It was not wise to dance on their graves. Russian nationalists were always aghast that Crimea was not formally a part of Russia. Russia will incorporate Crimea into Russia the way the Chinese incorporated Tibet. The West cannot stop them. However if Putin overplays his hand and seizes large amounts of Eastern Ukraine, it would badly frighten the Germans and the economic consequences would be punishing.
“However if Putin overplays his hand and seizes large amounts of Eastern Ukraine, it would badly frighten the Germans and the economic consequences would be punishing.”
If Germany gets feisty, doesn’t Russia just turn off the natural gas?