Originally Posted by crockett

It's already been a week since they shot down the airplane and he's yet to distance himself from the rebels, so it's not gonna happen. Putin has backed Russia into a corner over Ukraine. He pretty much has to win, otherwise the other ex soviet countries that Russia holds it's thumbs on are likely to start drifting away again.

The problem is, Putin can't win at this point, because he's waited too long and gathered too much world attention. He Lilly gagged around with the rebels when he should have sent troops into eastern Ukraine and taken what he wanted. If he had done that, there isn't much the US or EU could of done about it. However now he has lost his opportunity and has weakened Russia for the long term.