Are you of Russian origin? If so, I understand the tribal reflexes. For anybody else who follows geopolitics closely, it's clear that the Russian seizure of the Crimea has the potential to become the second iteration of the German seizure of the Sudetenland. Like many of the old and large imperial powers (including China and Iran), Russian has its native tradition of "mission civilisatrice" - a world-conquering tradition to bring civilization to the benighted heathens, while drenching the Russian state/sovereign in martial glory. Man does not live by bread alone, and this was why Germany embarked on WWI and WWII at a time when Germany was the most productive, on a GDP per capita basis, major country in Europe.
Agreed. This is the European Union’s gig.
Clever way to take over a mass of land. Look like you’re going to take over 2, then give one back. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and you get the area (Crimea) that you wanted.