It really looked to me that what Putin was doing, was trying to force a negotiation between NATO countries and the US. I mean, Ukraine wanted nothing to do with getting into a war with Russia. They were immediately ready to negotiate. What the US did, to me, looked like it was written like a script...or by a novelist. They started fanning the flames that Putin was massing his troops and he was going to attack Ukraine. Ukraine was freaked out by this and asked US officials to stop selling that story. Which they would not do.

I mean, why would Putin get into a war to gain a little piece of ground in Ukraine? 

I think Putin wanted to negotiate a deal. I don't think he wanted to get into an extended battle. Yes, he was in intelligence and he was never seen as crazy. He was called by some more of the bureaucratic type. He always refers to European nations and the US as "partners."

Sure, he kills people. Locks up his opposition and has the Russian media sell fairytales to the people and yes, Donny Trump was a pet project of his that I don't even think he thought would actually get elected president but, hey, when he was...why not take the credit?

I have no doubt Vlad thinks adding Ukraine back into his pile would be great but I kind of think he did not want to have to fight an extended war to do it. A war he does not even like calling a war. A war where even Zelensky acts like "Hey, you guys got me into this! Bail me out!" when he talks to his US counterparts. 

Yeah, he kills people to make a point and he is a sneaky little bastard, but this thing with Ukraine seems like he overplayed his hand when the US goaded him. 

It feels like we saw an opportunity, pull Putin into a war in Ukraine, frustrate all his efforts there to draw it out, make him have to decide between continuing the fight or backing out and admitting defeat...at which point the world would raise little Zelensky up onto their shoulders and declare him the man who beat Putin...a David crushing his Goliath. Which would be a total embarrassment for Vlad. As it is, this thing is an embarrassment for Vlad. 

It seems very much like someone wrote the narrative they sell in the media. Yes, I know how I sound but I'm just sayin'...