[Verginius Rufus]

Maybe the key to understanding Putin is to read Thucydides' Melian dialogue.

"Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by some necessity of their nature, they rule wherever they can."

[dfwgator]

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian National Interest.” - Winston Churchill

Just as true today, as it was then.