The Ukraine debarkle is more complicated than simply being a Ukrane land grab by Russia.
Russia provided the Ukraine with $15 billion aid a few months ago on the understanding that the Ukraine would not join the EC and, defacto, NATO.
Russia did this to: - secure its Black Sea port in Crimea and -maintain control of its gas pipelines that cross the Ukraine and supply EC countries including Germany with gas.
In summary, Russia has security and economic interests in the Ukraine and if the Ukraine joined the EC it would directly threaten these interests.
On one hand if nationalist elements in the Ukraine sabotage Russian gas pipelines, this would likely precipitate further action by Russia to protect its assets and, on the other hand, such actions would likely involve the EU due to the economic impact of a loss of gas supply.
Additionally, if the EC and the US impose economic sanctions on Russia, Russia is likely to retaliate by turning off its European gas supply.This in turn will qualify where China's loyalties lie. If China via its back door supports Russia like it does Iran, then this could broaden the conflict
Russia sees the Obama regime as incapable of action following Uncle Sam's withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq and its reluctance to become involved in the Syrian war. The US will likely see this as a EU/Nato problem and it will only lkely become involved via NATO if at all.
Because of Eastern Europe's reliance on Russian Gas, the EC will likely procrastinate until it establishes alternate supplies and that will likely be too late for the Ukraine to remain independent from Russia.
The US hawks will likely be viewing Europe as a customer for its natural gas exports as will Norway and the Middle East.
