Is it possible you and I might be operating under different definitions? I am using this one: > absence of objection rather than genuine approval; toleration.

Is it possible you and I might be operating under different definitions? I am using this one: > absence of objection rather than genuine approval; toleration. Of note is that this does not imply any suffering or burden. I understand that other people might personally choose to subscribe to different definitions of any given word. As for the rest, I don't think it's at all difficult to believe the Russians would use people as pawns that way. Especially when someone the ruling autocracy likes (and has some obligation they care about to defend) is concerned.