The West's Soft Line on Russia Is a Result of the Loss of Direction Among Western Democracies

A few Western observers support the Kremlin's laundry list of demands for Ukraine. They include federalization, non-aligned status and negotiations with separatists as sovereign political subjects. But do these people really think Russia would honor its agreements or that a return to the Yalta system would bring peace to Ukraine? West pundits are also confusing the Kremlin by convincing it that the West will stomach just about anything that it dishes out. Indeed, this false confidence has guided the Kremlin in its suicidal actions.