I can see Russia's need to at least keep the Ukraine independent :
- Russia does not want the Ukraine to join the EC & Nato (Nato is the enemy of Russia) -Russia has already given $15 billion a few months to the former democratically elected Ukraine Government on the condition that the Ukraine would not join the EC. - Now that the Ukraine has got the Russian $15 billion, they now want to join the EC !
The current reluctance of the Ukraine police/armed forced to clamp down on ex-Russian residents is simply giving the green light to Russia to reclaim the entire country and Obama's reluctance to intervene simply makes Russia's task easier
i listened to Putin's speech when he claimed the Crimea and his emphasis was on retaining the Black Sea ports and protecting the ethnic Russian residents there.
The USA/NATO has already installed hostile missile systems in Ex-Russian Eastern European states directed at Russia and I can appreciate Russia's fear of such missiles being installed in the Ukraine post their joining the EC. Cheers Moorookamick
