1. The takeover of Crimea by Russia was the swiftest and smoothest operation in modern history. It just unfolded according to a script. Even India’s annexation of Sikkim was not that easy. The world did not even realize it had happened.
2. The Russian Parliament has never endorsed anything on the agenda so unanimously and Putin’s speech justifying the takeover received a standing ovation.
3. The second Reich of the Soviet Union can be seen to have begun. Will other rump states be in the line for future strategic moves.
4. The US, the EU and the UN collectively were incapable of stopping the invasion and have no master plan or tactical advantage they can exercise in the aftermath. Vladimir Putin does not even pretend to care for world opinion.
5. By the same token NATO kept its guns spiked and did nothing, thereby making a mockery of its acronym. While the rest of the world was not even invited to the party the Russian move has set a precedent that could set off a series of annexations and make the world an extremely dangerous place.
6. The world order has now been submitted in indelible ink. The powerful will rule over the meek. Justice and the unfairness of ethnically dividing a country no longer count.
7. Even though Putin has reassured the world that he will not invade Ukraine beyond Crimea the nation feels that it will happen and it is helpless in a world that won’t step up.
8. Although two weeks ago the western bloc planned to impose sanctions on Russia these have not materialized and Russia has literally got away with it.
9. There is an outside chance of civil war erupting in Crimea in the coming days which could mean stringent measures by the occupying forces.
10. Russians in the Crimea have a larger population than Ukranians, Armenians, Germans and Karaites and there are also a sizeable number of Ukranian Jews. The majority presence made the invasion that much easier but what happens now.
