rebranded, rebaselined. in some small incremental ways but he could see forcing progress continuing on through the next administration, through the next three-plus years. it just makes it that much harder for hem to keep ukraine in orbit. time is not on his side. he thought ukraine was going to be a failed state. ukraine is not a failed state. ukraine is going to continue to become a more difficult problem for him. this is the time to act. he also perceives a lot of opportunities with regards to the hyperpolarization in the u.s., the rhetoric from the right wing media, why should we care, we should just give ukraine to russia the way putin is asking for it. he sees the opportunity to leverage pressure, energy, this energy crisis in europe against europe. he sees divisions between europe and the u.s. this is the time to act. >> quick final question. guys like putin, they seem either to be in office, in jail, or dead. is it all about him asserting his strength and therefore trying to hold on to the office?