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Living dangerously in Russia's backyard
From the Baltics to countries in Central Asia, the war in Ukraine is a reminder of their precarious position amid questions about how far Putin will go in pursuit of his revanchist dreams.
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Russian troops stand guard at the entrance to the village of Varnita, in Transnistria, a breakaway region in eastern Moldova, on March 4, 2022.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
Raffaello Pantucci
There are many unanswered questions to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Key among them is whether Ukraine is the extent of President Vladimir Putin's ambitions, or part of a longer and more ambitious path towards European dominance.
Or, placing this within a wider context, is Russian activity abroad all about meddling for the sake of continued relevance or aimed at some actual imperial gain.
