Anything and everything is possible with Putin

Poker face: Putin has been difficult to read by the West in their standoff with Russia over Ukraine. – Reuters

HERE’S an alternative view of the standoff over Ukraine between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the West.

Perhaps Putin deliberately created a crisis in which everything is possible at once, and stays that way. Right now, he can invade and not invade (with a perfect poker face, he denies that he intends to). He can escalate and de-escalate; pose as aggressor and victim.