Obama's 'Reset' with Russia was Actually a Pretty Good Idea (Hayes Brown) from The Week
"The much-maligned initiative led to some major breakthroughs."
One of the things this story touches on that I think is very missing from the way many pundits and critics are relating to this topic is the context which caused Putin to take Crimea in the first place: namely that Putin's main gambit in the Ukraine had FAILED. He was banking on his quisling, Yanukovitch succeeding in his bid to replicate Belorussia's relationship with Russia (regional tool and all-around kowtowing sycophant state) -- but the Ukrainians would have none of it. Obama's policy of urging Ukraine to align with western Europe was actually succeeding quite well, so well (one can hope anyway) that Putin will think carefully before he tries to seize the rest of Ukraine. I still think he will make that move -- but Obama and the Europeans have won the "Hearts and Minds" campaign, and it remains to be seen (if Russia does invade) if Putin won't have one huge mess on his hands rather than the historical "little Russian brother" he may think he'll get
"The much-maligned initiative led to some major breakthroughs."
One of the things this story touches on that I think is very missing from the way many pundits and critics are relating to this topic is the context which caused Putin to take Crimea in the first place: namely that Putin's main gambit in the Ukraine had FAILED. He was banking on his quisling, Yanukovitch succeeding in his bid to replicate Belorussia's relationship with Russia (regional tool and all-around kowtowing sycophant state) -- but the Ukrainians would have none of it. Obama's policy of urging Ukraine to align with western Europe was actually succeeding quite well, so well (one can hope anyway) that Putin will think carefully before he tries to seize the rest of Ukraine. I still think he will make that move -- but Obama and the Europeans have won the "Hearts and Minds" campaign, and it remains to be seen (if Russia does invade) if Putin won't have one huge mess on his hands rather than the historical "little Russian brother" he may think he'll get
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