If you really want to understand the Ukraine situation
In my opinion the best analysis of the situation between Ukraine and Russia I have come across thus far. It's a fairly long read but covers the subject thoroughly. Obama must be feeling 2016 can't come soon enough as Putin starts his push for retaining power and influence on a global scale knowing that the west can't stop him.
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"I never expected so many intelligent, perceptive, and influential media and political personalities to so easily fall into Vladimir Putin’s trap. After the initial shock to the world, and especially to the West, following Moscow’s announcements about the possible use of Russian armed forces in Ukraine, and then after being forced to acknowledge that Russia has already occupied Crimea, the West breathed a collective sigh of relief upon hearing Putin’s March 4 press conference, where he suggested Russia doesn’t have any plans to seize eastern Ukraine. I intentionally waited a while to make sure that this would indeed be the prevailing Western reaction after the dust settled—and it was. Western capitals felt encouraged by Putin. In the New York Times, Peter Baker confirmed that “American officials took some solace” after hearing Putin’s explanations. One may suppose that the Europeans, who are much more inclined to forgive Putin than is Washington, have felt more than just relief, but actual satisfaction, at the news."
"Actually, the Kremlin’s tactics against Ukraine are the same ones it used against the Bolotnaya protesters in Russia: The government will use both psychological and physical terror tactics to ensure dominance and guarantee obedience—both here and over there. This is an up-to-date version of the Brezhnev Doctrine used in 1968 against Czechoslovakia, an aggression which was also meant as a warning to Soviet society.
Ukraine has long been Putin’s personal project. The site of a stinging rebuke during the 2004 Orange Revolution, Ukraine now presents an opportunity for the Kremlin to exact revenge for both past and present Maidans, to teach the rebellious Ukrainians a lesson, and to warn Russians about the price of insubordination or attempts to escape the Russian Matrix."
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http://www.the-american-interest.com/articles/2014/03/10/falling-into-putins-trap/
= new reply since forum marked as read
for expressing your personal understanding of Russia. Also for validating what this article has to say.
My own Daughter lives in Kyiv. She sent this article to her friends and family to help us understand the complex and potentially dangerous situation Ukraine is in with Putin and his mentality.
It is a scary thought to think Putin believing himself as a directive from God. That can't be a good thing.
She is doing ok... I have suggested she seriously consider coming back to the U.S. for an extended visit. She says she will give it some thought. She reassures me that they (the company she works for) have a plan that can be executed quickly and her employer has stated they will pay the airfair for anyone who feels the need to leave. She is currently working out of her apartment so she doesn't have to go out into the city very often. She also only goes out with groups of her friends or associates.
After reading this article I am of course concerned with Russia continuing their overtaking Ukraine and of course to take over Kyiv would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
Thanks for asking and for your concern. 
MH
Thanks for the links. Ukraine has a brutal history. One most westerners don't know of and it does play a huge role in the split that is seen in that country today.
I also thought that her expressed concepts of the situation would be hard for the average Faux news type to comprehend.
Thanks for your input!
The U.S. and Obama cannot do it alone. There has to be a solid consensus from the entire European block and it would help to see China and the Asian countries take a stand as well.
Yet we are far from that happening....hopefully Putin won't step beyond Crimea and Ukraine is able to get the western nations to help the country move forward.
