I've listened to the discussion in Russia's Federation Safety Council where Putin, heads of government, parliament, security services, army has been discussing

I've listened to the discussion in Russia's Federation Safety Council where Putin, heads of government, parliament, security services, army has been discussing recognition of Donetsk & Luhansk There's one important point that has been explicitly mentioned (if I'm not mistaken, by Medvedev) "We got sanctions after operation in Georgia in 2008, but some time has passed and they started talking to us and working with us again" Their expectation: an offence against a neighbouring country generates not more than some sanctions that would be removed soon. It has worked like this in 2008. Why wouldn't it work now?