... recent diplomatic talks with them on Syria had been a farce. The same officials noted that Obama “fear[ed]” additional cyberattacks by Putin, additional military harassment in the Black and Baltic seas, and further aggression in Eastern Europe.
Yes, incredulously, Obama imagined that turning a blind eye to Russian interference in domestic American elections would somehow invite Russian compromise on other fronts, frustrating some on his team. I am reminded of the scene in The Lord ...
... limit Russian influence in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, some of the disputes between Ukraine and Russia involved fighting over gas deals. This all culminated in a January, 2006, shut-off of Russia’s gas flow into Ukraine and therefore into much of Europe as well, which got the vast majority of its gas from pipes passing through Ukrainian territory.
Soon after the shutoff, a new arrangement was made: RUE would now be the exclusive and direct supplier of all natural gas coming from Central Asia ...
... (Trump's people have distinctly avoided going into detailed or adequate explanations for this decision). Trump also just recently said at a press conference that he is considering lifting sanctions on Russia and recognizing its annexation of Crimea.
Trump also doesn’t think that there is enough evidence to blame Russia for the downing of MH17.
Trump defended Putin against accusations that he was behind the murders of numerous Russian journalists critical of Putin.
Most recently,...
... riot police on November 30. See: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304744304579245604043272372
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25905031
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/
[v] A Ukrainian soldier was shot and killed hours after Vladimir Putin formally announced the annexation of Crimea. See: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/putin-confirms-annexation-crimea-ukrainian-soldier-casualty
[vi] http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303949704579461513462696086
[vii] http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pro-russia-protesters-seize-buildings-in-eastern-ukraine-kiev-blames-putin/2014/04/06/68f8ba04-bdc4-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story....
