Putin along with all of the G7 leaders are (with the possible exception of Macron) are IDIOTS. That said, out own local politicians are also complete idiots so what should I expect??
I do understand why Putin has pushed Russia on it's current pathway but it's now time for a radically different pathway. Shifting geopolitical pathways requires engagement in the first instance. Unlike Trump I don't take Putin at his word and building trust requires time.
Crimea? Yeah …. at the time taking Crimea from the Tatars and sending in Girkin to control bits and pieces of the Ukraine may have sounded like a good idea BUT Ukraine is not a long term adversary that any neighbouring country would wish to have. Following years of skirmish with Russia Ukraine is at least semi organised now. I don't follow this conflict however a fully organised and competent Ukrainian army would have rolled over the so-called separatists by now but they haven't. That's besides the point. Ukraine is too large for Russia to play long term combat skirmish with and hope to prosper.
Russia would have done far better if Putin had actually engaged constructively with the muddle headed Ukrainian Government a few years ago. On that pathway the border would not need to change as it could have largely become invisible.
