It sort of makes sense where Putin is coming from. He considers himself the almighty Tsar, he'd prefer to solve the temporary lack of obeisance in Ukraine peacefully, and of course the solution must acknowledge his supreme rule. I find it a little strange when someone else has this idea of a supreme tsar, and accept the weirdnesses that follow from that idea.
Clausewitz said it well: “The aggressor is always peace-loving (as Bonaparte always claimed to be); he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.”
