In The New York Times, Thomas Friedman explains how Putin and Russia took it on the chin after Ukraine’s independence movement began. Friedman writes here that Putin blinked when faced with the punishing economic sanctions and a cold shoulder from the developed world. Friedman thinks Russia’s annexation of Crimea has done the country more harm than good.
“Let’s add it up: Putin’s seizure of Crimea has weakened the Russian economy, led to China getting a bargain gas deal, revived NATO, spurred Europe to start ending its addiction to Russian gas and begun a debate across Europe about increasing defense spending. Nice work, Vladimir. That’s why I say the country Putin threatens most today is Russia.”
