Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to attack Ukraine has sent relations between Moscow and the West spinning to their lowest point since the Cold War. The invasion, accompanied by missile attacks and airstrikes on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and other major cities, is his most direct attempt yet to redraw the global security map and restore Russia’s sphere of influence to the days of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, more than 30 years ago. It is an unprecedented gamble for Mr. Putin, who is now reckoning with a plethora of new sanctions from the U.S. and Europe aimed at hamstringing his country’s economy. The U.S. has promised a raft of new measures it views as commensurate with the Kremlin’s aggression but Mr. Putin has leverage, too: Russia is Europe’s major supplier of natural gas. https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-ukraine-putin-invade-explained-11645570205 #Russia #Ukraine #War #Conflict #attack
