He wants a strong Russia....and frankly a weak Russia might even be worse, because they’d lose control over their Muslim population.
There are many reasons a strong Russia is good for America - economic and regarding the Muslim issue as you point out.
The logical solution for the current events would be to allow people in Crimea to hold their own election and vote on autonomy. I believe this is where Putin is going and while he is tipping the odds in his favor the claim by Russia was established long ago by the populace.
Crimea would have voted to join Russia at any point in recent history and a good argument can be made supporting the benefit for it’s population. If we claim to support self-determination how can we refuse Crimea the right to secede from an already fractured nation?
All the hype being driven in the media has ignored the fact that the Russians may have had more soldiers there before the crisis than the Ukrainians did and they were not really an “occupying power”.
I am starting to believe the world, and even America, would be a safer and more sane place if more fracturing occurred to better reflect reality. How many nations are made up of two or three distinct groups in distinct regions under one government? I think America would be far better off if we made some more states to better reflect reality instead of allowing city-states to dominate entire regions. Why should condo-dwellers in downtown Denver be able to control all the family farms and water in Colorado?
Food for thought....