This was more than two weeks ago. Western Kremlinologists misread Russia.
We’re now way past the point of an alternative solution. Russia is going to formally absorb Crimea and then focus on destabilizing and subverting Kiev - without leaving visible fingerprints on the entire operation.
Moscow does not need to invade eastern Ukraine. It can alternate blandishments with pressure to try to make its opponent fall. Putin is not fighting a 19th Century war; he is waging a sophisticated campaign to put Ukraine in its place.
Gobbling up Crimea was just the first phase and while Moscow’s moves do seem inchoate, there is a strategy behind them that the Kremlin has masterminded. Above all, the Russian strongman is a student of Clausewitz.
“Above all, the Russian strongman is a student of Clausewitz.”
Not Clausewitz, but Machiavelli...
They might have deemed Machiavelli politically-incorrect in American schools, but it is still taught in many places.