Opening for an invasion Opening for an invasion A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces walks with a weapon at fighting positions on the line of separation near the Moscow-controlled city of Donetsk. PHOTO: Serhiy Takhmazov / Reuteres / Scanpix The situation is becoming increasingly tense on Ukraine’s eastern border. While Ukraine claims Russia has consciously put a strain on the eastern part of the country and troop movements have given rise to rumors of the war picking up again, the Kremlin’s goals remain unclear for the time being. Chairman of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson told the “Otse Postimehest” webcast that President Vladimir Putin’s decisions stem from his desire to restore the influence of the former Russian empire. That is likely the driving force behind the Kremlin’s irrational decisions, also in the Ukrainian context, Mihkelson found.