The US/UN has been and is being very arrogant and reckless in its marginalizing of Russia...we have relentlessly pushed NATO and the EU right to russia's doorstep, have tons of weapons pointed at them and casually operate our navy right off their coast, and act like its not provocation of any sort...
this is no doubt what has made Putin and his actions so popular there...anytime a nation feels completely marginalized, screwed over, and surrounded by hostile powers, nationalism inevitably rises there (and for good reason-nothing wrong with that).
I read a BBC article talking about how Putin is reopening a spy base in Cuba. A delicate cat and mouse game is sure to ensue.
