title: Why putin took Crimea
abstract: The article focuses on Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, in which President Vladimir Putin's goal in occupying the region is explored. Topics discussed include three plausible interpretations of the Crimea annexation including Putin as a defender, claims that the move was a preventive action to block Ukraine's membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia's long-held plans to invade Crimea.
journal: Foreign Affairs