Putin's Perilous Overreach.

RUSSIA-Ukraine Conflict, 2014-; RUSSIA-Ukraine relations; PUTIN, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1952-; NATO participation in the Kosovo War, 1998-1999; WESTERN countries; INTERNATIONAL relations; HISTORY

CRIMEA (Ukraine); FORMER Soviet republics

The article looks at the crisis in Ukraine as of April 2014, in the aftermath of Russia's annexation of the country's Crimea region. It outlines a speech on the subject made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, including his reference to the 1999 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intervention in Kosovo. Topics include Russia's policy toward the former Soviet states, the policy of Western countries toward Russia, and Russian energy exports.