“Regaining Crimea would be his greatest achievement”
He was thinking about that for years. It seems to me that the plans to achieve the takeover are too well oiled to be put up in a couple of weeks. Some of Russia’s plans were clearly years in the making, including one to sever Crimea from Ukraine through Moscow’s political support for sovereignty and even reunification.
In order to take Kosovo, NATO and US airforces needed 80 days of heavey pombing and scores of 1 millon worth missiles. Bombing Yugoslavia and the aftermath in Kosovo cost NATO and US some $8 billion. Rebuilding the bombed infrastructures in Kosovo - $18 billion. One year of KFOR peacekeeping came at $25 billion, multiplying by eight: $200 billion.
Russia took over Crimea in a few days, WITHOUT firing a shot.
That is amazing, and not in a good way for US taxpayers.