If one ever had any doubt about Putin’s ambitions, today’s speech should remove all doubts.

Putin is making the case for the reconstitution of the Soviet Union/Russian Empire because he believes he can get away with it.
It’s clear that after the debacle in Afghanistan, every thuggish figure on the planet is licking their chops, including the Iranians and the Chinese.

I stand ready, willing and able to work with the Biden Administration to impose the most crushing sanctions possible on the Russian economy.
The question is whether the Biden Administration has the will and determination to do so.

It is long past time for all the Russian oligarchs – Putins’ partners in crime – to lose their yachts, luxury apartments, and their assets.
That would be a good beginning on the long journey to push back against Putin and his misadventures.

The truth of the matter is the Russian economy is smaller than that of Italy, overly dependent on oil and gas revenue, and is both internally and externally weak.
The Russians have a pair of twos while the West has a Full House.
However, it is the West that is folding.