So tell me some more about how the Russian economy is in "free fall". Really, why cannot you accept the fact that Ukraine is all about Russian security? The last thing Putin wanted was to invade. But the US and NATO forced his hand.

You seem to have very little knowledge of actual Russia. You say they "played around" in Syria? Ever think maybe the fact that one of their two warm water naval bases was in Syria, and that was strategically important to Russia?