it's very clear that putin's had wanted to create a sphere of influence and control, and strategic depth, in what were the former vassal states. and that he has attempted to reconstitute at that in various ways, including crimea. why are we here right now? >> i think we saw this buildup start to occur at the beginning of 2021. it was on the expectation that russia had to act. ukraine was slipping through his fingers. back in 2014, when this confrontation started, when russia lost its military offensive against ukraine, it did so because it's awe country choosing its own destiny, asserting its sovereignty, choosing a path towards european integration, and towards democracy. really, this is a continuing enterprise and a lot of ways. he thought he may have achieved what he wanted with the phil to