Publication

This paper proposes some reasons for Russia's adoption of a more assertive foreign policy under president Vladimir Putin, particularly in Crimea and eastern Ukraine since the beginning of 2014. More specifically, the author 1) describes how the current Russian government elites surrounding President Vladimir Putin perceive Crimea and eastern Ukraine; 2) summarizes how Russia projects its power across multiple geographic fronts; and 3) offers concluding thoughts on how the West can respond to Russia's actions.