Russia is pursuing its national interests.
So there is a difference of opinion about it. But that does not give Obama the right to decide what those interests are.
Frankly, its true Russia wants a friendly Ukrainian government. This is perfectly legitimate - and you can use all allowed methods to secure it.
Every country does this to some extent. But its not like Russia is engaging in habitual expansionism. If this was a recurrent problem, we would have every right to be concerned.
It isn’t and Russia is nowhere as evil as the Soviet Union that killed thousands of people in the name of Communist ideology. Cold War metaphors do not work here. If someone can show us Russia is sending in tanks and mowing down people, yes we should do everything we can to ensure such behavior is not repeated.
This is not the case here and even Putin’s fiercest critics don’t claim he has shed any one’s blood. Compared to the Soviet Union, today’s Russian Bear appears to be remarkably civilized.
True, but arguments for just ignoring this are so reminiscent of feeble and cowardly responses to aggression by dictators in the past that people are going to be uneasy with advice to just not look at what's going on.