简介:Putin’sforceful,almostcontemptuousdismissalofwarningsfromU.S.andEuropeanleadersaboutthedangerouspathhewaspursuingledtoanxiousspeclationaboutwhatlaybehindit.Afteryearsofpursuingapragmaticgeopoliticalgamethatwasunderstandable,thoughnotalwaysappreciatedbytheWest,Putinseemedtobeoperatinginadifferentworld.HehadspentyearscourtingacceptanceinorganizationsliketheG8,whosemeetinghehadplannedonhostinginthenewSochiWinterOlympicssetting,butin2014heseemedtobethrowingeverythingawayinpursuitofsomesortofmissionthatfewinthewestunderstood.