[GeronL]

I wonder what other former eastern-bloc countries that Putin might be desiring a piece of???

[cloudmountain]

I wonder what other former eastern-bloc countries that Putin might be desiring a piece of???

PERHAPS, whatever takes his fancy.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I wonder what other former eastern-bloc countries that Putin might be desiring a piece of???"

The Ukraine would be prize enough. It has both industry and a vast agricultural economy.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Ukraine has always been the most significant economic and strategic possession of Russia. Putin is a 20th century person. Russia for centuries has desired buffer zones to protect against invasion from Western Europe

Russia’s real problem will be China but Putin doesn’t see it that way

I am afraid all of Ukraine will soon be lost

[Jim Noble]

I wonder what other former eastern-bloc countries that Putin might be desiring a piece of???

Unlikely. Ukraine is nothing like Poland, or Czecho, or Hungary. There is a small ball interpretation of the current situation - you know, Kievan Rus, neo-Nazi fascists, etc, etc.

If Putin is playing the big game, though, he will be negotiating with Germany soon.

The only geopolitical question of significance in Europe remains, where is the border between Germany and Russia?

Stalingrad is too far East. The Elbe is too far West. The rest remains to be determined.