Over the last decade, the West has repeatedly PROVOCATED Russia over
security, trade and diplomatic issues:

1997-99 NATO Enlargements:
NATO invites Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to join the
alliance. Russia protests, but the three countries join in March 1999.

1999 Kosovo:
NATO bombs Serbia to stop the war in the breakaway province of Kosovo.
Russia protests, but is unable to intervene.

1999 Chechnya:
Russia invades its breakaway province of Chechnya. Western leaders
accuse Russia of human-rights abuses, to the fury of its new
president, Vladimir Putin.

2002-04 NATO and EU Enlargements:
NATO and the EU invite several new members from the former Soviet
sphere to join. Russia again objects, but the enlargements take place
in spring 2004.

2005-07 Trade Rows:
Following the EU's 2004 enlargement, new members Poland and Lithuania
find themselves in conflict with Russia over a ban on Polish meat
imports and a shut-off of oil to Lithuania. Both countries veto talks
on a strategic EU-Russia deal. Moscow accuses them of holding its
relationship with the EU for ransom.

2007 Missile Defense:
The US announces plans to site parts of an anti-missile system in NATO
and EU members Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia threatens to aim
nuclear missiles at the duo in response.

2007 Cyber War:
The Estonian government relocates a Red Army war memorial in Tallinn.
Ethnic Russians retaliate by rioting in Tallinn, attacking EU
diplomats in Moscow and launching a massive cyber-attack on Estonian
government systems. European politicians condemn the attacks. Russia
retorts by accusing Europe of trying to "rewrite the history" of World
War II.

2008 Kosovo:
Kosovo declares independence in February. The US and most European
states recognize it, but stress that it is a unique case. Russia
condemns the move and warns that it will be seen as a precedent in
other conflict areas such as Georgia.

2008 NATO Enlargement:
At a summit in April, NATO leaders agree that Georgia and Ukraine
should join the alliance at an unspecified future point. Russia warns
that this would destabilize the security situation in the Caucasus.

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