Eight years ago today, the Putin doctrine was born.
Eight years ago today, the Kremlin learned what it could get away with in its neighborhood.
Eight years ago today, Moscow proved it could pretty much flout international rules and norms with impunity.
Eight years ago today, Russia invaded Georgia.
And in many ways, that five-day war fought in the summer of 2008 was a harbinger.
In many ways, it was a prologue to the world we are living in today.
In many ways, it was a dress rehearsal for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Then, the Kremlin accused Georgia of committing genocide in South Ossetia.
Now, they accuse Ukraine's government of being a fascist junta.
Then, Russia solidified their control over Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.
Now, they've annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and de facto occupied the Donbas.
Then, the Kremlin regime pretty much ignored a European-brokered peace agreement.
Today, it is flagrantly and regularly violating a European-brokered peace agreement.
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Eight years ago today, the world got a warning that Vladimir Putin was intent on rebuilding Russia's empire in the former Soviet space -- the consequences be damned.
The world didn't heed the warning then.
And now the Georgians, the Ukrainians, and the rest of us are paying the price now.
Keep telling me what you think in the comments section, on the Power Vertical's Twitter feed, and on our Facebook page.
And now the Georgians, the Ukrainians, and the rest of us are paying the price now.
Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
