[Dismas]

Russia does one thing in defence of itself and all the little sheep pile on like Putin is the next Hitler.

Austria, Czechoslovakia... Crimea, Ukraine. I can see why people make the comparison. The Soviet Union lost its erection (and remaining territories) in 1991. Russia is attempting to annex a territory that claimed independence almost 30 years ago.

I disagree, I don't think Putin wants to annex Ukraine at all, he simply doesn't want them joining NATO. Easy to understand since Ukraine is essentially a significant buffer between all of the western European countries who are NATO members. Just look at the NATO members on the world map, it looks like NATO is slowly moving to the east and I would be cagey too if my enemy was doing that.

Russia's attack on the Ukraine is sending a message to NATO but more importantly to the US that any further movements to the east are not acceptable.

Putin has said Ukraine will retain its independance and I believe he means that. However, I also believe that a situation could arise which would necessitate Putin actually retaining control of Ukraine but this would be in direct response to NATO or US actions, so it remains to be seen how this ends.

Ukraine needs to stay independent, at least maintain the appearance of being as such, so that both Russian and NATO can co-exist without conflict.

The US has retreated from Afghanistan though, and if follow history then you'll see the US always has a mortal enemy to focus on and this time it may actually be Russia.

You keep mentioning the US, but pretty much every other country is in opposition to the Russian occupation. Acknowledging a country's independence includes allowing them to decide who they form alliances with. Ukraine wasn't being considered for NATO, yet Putin felt threatened? He doesn't want them to be independent, he wants them to be a puppet state (at the very least).