Putin is looking at a map of where ethnic Russians live outside of Russia. He sees the Crimea, the Eastern Ukraine, the entire north of Kazakhstan and parts of Belorussia and the Baltics states and pockets here an there in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
He then looks at a map of the old Soviet Union and sees that the areas were the Russians live are by and large the best parts of it. The oil fields and the space launching site at Baikonur in Kazakhstan are certainly of interest to Russia, and Russia shares a very long border with Kazakhstan who's population in about 40% Russian and Slav. But who wants the deserts and mountains were all the crazy Muslims live in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus, and what use are Armenia and Georgia to Russia.
He's then thinking the Eastern Slavs in Belorussia and the Ukraine are really Russians, and to an outsider they might as well be as they share a similar language, religion and culture. Belorussia is now so cosy with Russia that it might as well be part of it, so that just leaves the Ukraine.
He then looks at the rest of the world and thinks about who might stop him from annexing the Crimea and the Eastern Ukraine. China? I don't think they would even raise an eye lid. Europe? A lot of protests but they are going to do nothing without America. The UN? Ah cmon get real. America? They could cause some real problems if they wanted to, but Obama is focused on Obamacare and immigration reform, and if he couldn't prevent a relatively weak power like Syria from gassing and massacring its own people what is he going to do against a very strong and nuclear armed power like Russia on its own doorstep?
It could be Grim times ahead for the Ukraine
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