It has often been argued that Russia was reacting to the perceived encroachment on its “near abroad” by the European Union and NATO. But history suggests a simpler explanation: A decade of steadily rising oil prices had emboldened Russia, leaving it ready to seize any opportunity to deploy its military power.
一个时常出现的论点是，俄罗斯在对其所认定的欧盟和北约入侵其“近邻”的行为做出反应。但历史告诉我们一个更加简单的解释：十年来石油价格的稳步上涨培养了俄罗斯的野心，使它准备抓住一切机会部署其军事力量。