In the long run, Putin’s baiting of the West may turn out to be as self-defeating as Saakashvili’s baiting of Russia. But in the short run there is a real danger that Russia will pursue its age-old aspiration of becoming part of Europe by seeking to become the dominant entity.
从长期而言，普京引诱西方有可能像萨卡什维利引诱俄国一样弄巧成拙。但是在短期而言确实存在危险，也就是俄国将会通过力求成为统领国家实体而追寻其成为欧洲一部分的百年渴望。