article_snippet: But a year since the annexation of Crimea, what does that mean for the West's ability to deal with him regarding Ukraine?
article_snippet: But with that in mind, how should Western leaders who must deal with Vladimir Putin actually do so?
article_snippet: First of all, Western leaders who must deal with him should bear in mind Ronald Reagan's "trust but verify" dictum.
article_snippet: The challenge for the West is to structure agreements so that The challenge for the West remains in Vladimir Putin interest to observe them.
article_snippet: The question now topping the agenda is whether the West can trust any Russian promises regarding a settlement to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
article_snippet: What can the West do to stabilize The Minsk II ceasefire reached in February?  
article_snippet: the West may not be able to trust Putin on The Minsk II ceasefire reached in February.
article_snippet: But the West can do more to raise the potential costs and affect Putin calculation, and hopefully dissuade Putin from further military action that would probably bring down the entire Minsk II agreement.