Putin's Continued Treachery

In flagrant violation of a ceasefire negotiated last month, Russia is sending tanks and other equipment into eastern Ukraine to assist Russian-backed rebels opposed to the Ukranian government.  The State Department is indicating that in addition to tanks, heavy artillery, armored vehicles and rocket launchers are being supplied to the rebels in clear violation of the terms of the February 12 ceasefire negotiated with Russia by the governments of Germany, France and Ukraine.  The Administration is evaluating options for providing arms to the Ukranian government to counterbalance Russia's arms supplies.

Russian autocrat Vladimir "Vlad the Invader" Putin apparently feels emboldened following the assassination of a key opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov two weeks ago in Moscow.  Nemtsov was a vocal critic of Putin's aggression in Crimea and Ukraine over the past year.  Putin's government is in the process of a "rounding up the usual suspects" charade in relation to the assassination, including Chechens hostile to Russian control, a stretch if there ever was one.

BONUS:  Given how successfully he's played into Russian nationalism and paranoia, Putin feels as though he has as free a hand as he ever will.