(CNN) -- At the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, Vladimir Putin told a surprised George W. Bush, "You have to understand, George, that Ukraine is not even a country. Part of its territory is in Eastern Europe and the greater part was given to us." Six years later, the Kremlin appears to be making sure that Putin's opinion becomes a reality. For Moscow, the drama that has been unfolding in Ukraine for the past three months is a domestic and an international issue. After all, if a revolution can unseat an unpopular, corrupt government in Kiev, why not in Moscow?
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Angela Stent: Vladimir Putin's move into Crimea is central to his view of Russia's interests
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Key to those interests is the Russian Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea
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Stent says that beyond sanctions and containment, Western reaction may be limited
Some 60% of @placeholder's population is Russian and appears to support the current Russian occupation.