I almost wonder if this is not just a part of an overall foreign policy by Putin. I mean think about, the US is busy fighting among itself over Trump, The UK doing same over Brexit, much of the EU/NATO nations are squabbling domestically over how best to deal with immigration and such - and somewhat with each other on all those domestic things that have international ramifications. What a great time to be Putin watching the EU/NATO/West world all up in arms internally.
The Brits are focusing on Russia over the alleged GRU agents, half the US is focusing on what Russia may have done in the 2016 election....it's almost like photographers do when trying to get kids to look this way at Russia or that way, parents jingling keys and such - distraction, look this way! Throw in 300,000 Russian troops doing exercises that EVERYONE is watching....
As Russia continues to annex Ukraine getting a foothold back in Europe
Continues to send troops and supplies into Syria as it reestablishes and consolidate it's strongest foothold in the Middle East
Russia has always been an imperial power, or wanted to be. They just weren't very successful at it, and couldn't get a seat with the big kids in Europe, until 1945. And then they gave that all away in the early 90's. To the hardliners that was/is a betrayal to Mother Russia, especially the "Russian lands" like say...Ukraine.
He's not reckless or going to provoke a large conflict, but Putin, IMO, is old school Russian, and wants to restore Russia to the "rightful place" it deserves.
