With renewed Russian movements across multiple fronts, it is clear that the EU-and specifically the UK's-Appeasement-style policy has failed entirely to contain a revived Russian aggression, and it stems from a complete misunderstanding of president Putin's intentions. In order to form an appropriate and adequate response to the Russian threat at Europe's doorstep, a reassessment of Russia's motivations is necessary, says Cory Turner.
The assessment of Russia's intentions in Ukraine have largely speculated that Russia is taking steps to realise its dream of a 'Eurasian Union', coordinated and lead by an ever-more powerful Russian Federation to solidify its position. Indeed, this has some merit; not only has the collapse of the old Soviet Union left the country in a shadow of its former power and influence, but other nations have stepped in to fill the vacuum. China's rise appears to be doing this, and Russia's objective is now to match - though it is incapable of superseding -it, to become an equal partner in what it could hope is a united partnership against 'the West' (a term now quickly becoming out-dated).