My take: There might not be a clearly defined endgame. The point is the tension itself. By keeping us guessing and talking, Russia maintains a flexible position

My take: There might not be a clearly defined endgame. The point is the tension itself. By keeping us guessing and talking, Russia maintains a flexible position while keeping everyone mystified. It almost doesn’t even matter if they attack, as long as we’re thinking and talking about it. If you’re thinking of a more long-term end-game for Russia, I would recommend reading about the Primakov Doctrine.