Greg, The Russian people are so used to being subjugated
They were under the Tzar's and the Soviet Union,and now under the Quasi democracy that is the present state.
People there still long for the old Soviet Union, and outside the main Cities life is not much different to what it was like under Stalin and the Tzars.
The Crimean and those Etnic Russian in Ukraine have had no secrets in wanting to belong to Russia.
Besides going to war, there is little the west can do but sanctions.
That the Europeans put nearly all their energy needs into one basket, getting most of it from Russia was a stupid thing to do.
The have been warned against it for years but continued down that path.
Just like the USA with their rockets,so the Europeans with their energy needs.
Cheers