Peg, they are blaming Russia for too much. Putin did not invade Ukraine, it was the USA. We violated international law and paid for a coup de tate which overthrow the democratically elected President Yanukovich.
So, when Putin responded and took over Crimea, it was in response to the USA invading a neighbor state, Ukraine in violation of all civil laws.
When the USA totally disregards all international laws, overthrows a democratically elected gov't recognized by the itnernationl community and the UN, Putin considered the US a lawless marauder.
Trump knows all of the above and doesn't consider Putin a threat we can't control but we can work with him. Putin is only a threat when we first threaten him.
If you notice, all of Putin's moves correspond with a first negative move by the USA.
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