Maddow Blog-If Trump's right, and Putin wants to 'solve the problem' in Ukraine, why won't he withdraw?

[Igel]

2. That's part of what Putin thinks is part of the problem.

But only part. The new regime would have to be a satrapy, at the very least.

This is the legacy of Mongol rule. You get limited authority, but you are part-and-parcel of the larger whole. The rules can change, you owe tribute and fealty. Mix in a bit of 3rd Rome and you're there.

It's a toxic mix. The reeducation of the Russian polity was botched by short-term thinking ignorami. (Don't care what letter or color is affixed to their hides, they screwed up and the up-screwing has continued apace from "see his soul" to "reset" to Trump to "we don't want to escalate, so they call the terms." And back to Trump. If you don't ken the cunning then you're conned, some less blatantly than others.