Russia has a tremendous air advantage if they were to invade, and NATO can't help without sparking a major conflict. The HQ of their Naval Force was already taken with Crimea and the Navy itself is very small; there's also a good bit of Russian apologists in Ukraine especially in the East that would probably make moving close to the Capitol fairly easy. From Belarus it's essentially a straight shot to Kiev. I hope you're right, but Putin seems to have indicated he wants it all. I think it might start in the East but spread.

> Which is still a large area, to be sure.

And includes the capital of Ukraine.

Western Ukraine is much more wealthy than the East, and also the Western part can still join NATO...what's not to understand? I'm pretty well versed on Ukraine and have been following this since 2004 with the Orange Revolution. There's nothing to "armchair." Listen to Putin's speech and what he has been saying for the past decade on the matter. He doesn't believe in Ukrainian independence at all. Since the 2014 Revolution (and it occurring during his Sochi Olympics) Putin has plotted his revenge, after he lost control. I don't think that stops with only taking half; I hope it does and Russia is pushed out entirely...just don't see that has Putin's overall plan.