Russia and the United States are engaged in a profound ideological confrontation — one that isn't widely understood in Western Europe or even at the White House.
It began in February a year ago. President Vladimir Putin of Russia found himself engaged in what seemed a simple defensive battle against American intervention in Ukraine. He is now under siege by the United States and NATO. The Western powers promoted the advancing "color revolutions" in states neighboring Russia, culminating in the coup in Ukraine and the small war that followed. Events did not go as the U.S. State Department and NATO planned, and now they are looking for revenge.
Germany and France intervened at Minsk to block a further American intervention with new arms for Kiev. A truce prevails for the moment. However, NATO has launched an exceedingly imprudent program to encircle Russia with demonstrations of force.