Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West's Fault.

RUSSIA-Ukraine Conflict, 2014-; NORTH Atlantic Treaty Organization; EUROPEAN Union membership; PUTIN, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1952-; FOREIGN relations of the United States in the 21st century; UKRAINIAN Revolution, 2004; SPHERES of influence; TWENTY-first century; INTERNATIONAL relations

The author argues that responsibility for the Russian intervention in Ukraine in 2014, including its annexation of Crimea, lies with the U.S. and the European Union (EU) member state allies. He states that they antagonized Russian President Vladimir Putin with support for the expansion of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) military alliance; the eastward expansion of the EU; and the movement of Ukraine out of Russia's sphere of influence to the Western sphere of through support of pro-democracy movements beginning with the Orange Revolution of 2004.