"The potential strike by the [Russian Federation] against [Ukraine], despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, in

"The potential strike by the [Russian Federation] against [Ukraine], despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond [Ukraine]’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the [Chechnya] problem and the [Syrian] conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance." – Vladimir Putin, six months ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-cau...