Quite simplistic article - and for starters Europe is not into hockey  .-) There is no empty net ... and why exactly should the USA be the global goal keeper ?!

The EU is not a coherent bloc, and both parties - the EU and Russia - are busy with their economic agendas. Russia sells oil and NG to the EU and the EU sells vehicles ( those lovely BMWs and Mercedes' ) and high tech to Russia. The Ukraine and Crimea are a side show and will ultimately fade as conflict zones. Of course the still walking Cold War Zombies do keep the MSM media scribblers  occupied. Putin is an improvement over the political taxidermy of a Breznev and his ilk. Russia has a weak economy and large Muslim population, a long border with China ... thus much incentive to normalize relations with the EU, never mind  the USA.

As for the tempest in a tea pot over "hacking" - news flash: "everybody" does it, including your neighbour's basement dwelling unemployed computer nerd son, so it's hardly news.