What Are Russia's Goals In Ukraine?

The Russian flag is raised next to a regional government office in central Donetsk March 1, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Stringer

What Is Russia’s Aim in Ukraine? -- New York Times editorial

Update March 1, 2014: On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia asked the Russian Senate to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia played the genial host at the Olympic Games in Sochi, but his dangerous approach to geopolitics could be his true legacy.

On Friday, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Yuriy Sergeyev, said that Russian troops had taken control of two airports in Crimea and that the Russian Navy was blocking the Ukrainian Coast Guard.

Moscow denied that it had sent troops in. But the fact is, Russia was outrageously provocative when it put 150,000 troops on high alert on Wednesday for war games near Ukraine’s border and then on Friday allowed the deposed Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, to give a news conference when he showed up in the Russian city Rostov-on-Don.

The situation has now gone from chaos to the verge of military confrontation. The pro-Russia region of Crimea is seething, and the new central government that took over in Kiev after Mr. Yanukovych fled is barely functioning.

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My Comment: Moscow's intentions are now very clear. Crimea is to become a Russian territory, and if protests and unrest sweeps the other Russian dominated regions in Ukraine .... to have military forces positioned to move in. Russia has also made the strategic choice to undermine the new Ukrainian government. I am now expecting no more financial aid, cheap gas, and trade .... three critical economic factors that the new Ukrainian government will need to survive. My prediction .... for the 50 million who live in Ukraine .... expect hard and unstable times for the next few years.