region. this is not new from ukrainians. but the drums of war here are being heard from a distance. you don't hear them here. that's because ukrainians really feel like they're not involved. they don't have any purchase on the situation. they've been left out of a lot of the diplomacy up until now. and really this is just fulfilling a longtime frustration of a lot of ukrainians who are tired of russia using their country as a cudgel to beat the west. that is what they've seen ever since before world war ii, they've seen themselves as an instrument of moscow rather than as country of their own. while, you know, moscow is using this against the west, they think the west doesn't really care about them. they're tired of being mere spectators for their own fate. stephanie? >> joel, here's what i don't get. russia is not a superpower. they're an economic midget. the white house is threatening major stuff, huge economic