What Ukraine Can Offer Putin?
From the Bloombergviews (1:15 pm.: Updated second paragraph to include reference to NATO reports of Russian military involvement.) The convoy of about 300 whitewashed Russian military trucks on the Ukrainian border, the first of which entered eastern Ukraine today, is an apt metaphor for this depressing conflict. Russia says they're carrying humanitarian aid. Ukraine says Russia has invaded. It may not be an invasion, but Ukrainian officials have the better of this argument. Many of these trucks are almost empty , and they are traveling without the Red Cross escort Russia agreed to. Now NATO reports that Russia has brought artillery across the border. Still, Ukrainian officials must be careful in how they respond, because there remains plenty of room for escalation. Their campaign against pro-Russian rebels in their city strongholds has been making gains. But the closer victory comes, the higher the risk that Russian President Vladimir Putin -- cornered by the nationalist fervo...