With The Olympic Games Over, Will Putin Pursue A More Aggressive Domestic And Foreign Policy?

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks out from the presidential lounge to take his seat as he is introduced during the closing ceremony for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 23, 2014. REUTERS/David Goldman/Pool

Sochi Games Over, Will Putin Take The Gloves Off? -- Timothy Heritage, Reuters

(Reuters) - For more than two weeks while Russia hosted the Winter Olympics, President Vladimir Putin did his best to show the world that he and his country have a soft side.

Now the Sochi Games are over, Western governments are concerned the smile will disappear and the gloves come off in Russia's tug-of-war with Europe over the fate of Ukraine.

The circus artists, dancers and flag bearers hardly had time to leave the stadium after the closing ceremony in Sochi before Russia announced it had recalled its ambassador from Ukraine for consultations in Moscow.

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My Comment: All eyes are now on Ukraine .... and on what Russian President Putin may do there. But my prediction is that there is going to be no changes in how he conducts policy .... both domestic and international. He may permit a small crackdown on dissidents, and no financial aid to Ukraine .... but as to issues like Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, EU and U.S. relations .... I see nothing changing. Where he may react is if Ukraine becomes a failed state and the Russian community is under threat .... in that event it would not surprise me if he sends the military to protect the Russian dominated part of Ukraine .... such a move would be supported in Russia, and definitely by Ukrainian Russians.