A High- Stakes Guessing Game.

PUTIN, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1952-; RUSSIA-Ukraine Conflict, 2014-; HUMILIATION -- Social aspects; UKRAINIAN foreign relations, 1991-; INTERNATIONAL relations

The article focuses on the confusion centered on Russian president Vladimir Putin. Topics discussed include his annexation of Crimea to Russia and the commitment to keep Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, speculations pertaining to his actions, the theory of him being a tyrant who wish to reconstruct the old Soviet empire, his perceived limited goals involving countries surrounding Russia, and the trauma of the collapse of the Soviet Union resulting to humiliation and status deprivation.