NATO general said Russian forces are ready and could strike Ukraine in days . The U.S. has been warning Russia for weeks that it is prepared to use military force if the crisis escalates further. For Vladimir Putin , annexing Crimea is a win-win situation . And about the economic sanctions : How often are they truly successful ? He says Putin wants to build a financial iron curtain between Russia and the West . Volkov : Putin is playing by his own rules , the West ca n't really do much to stop him .
NATO general said Russian forces are ready and could strike Ukraine in days . The U.S. has been warning Russia for weeks that it is prepared to use military force if the crisis escalates further. For Vladimir Putin , annexing Crimea is a win-win situation . He says Putin wants to build a financial iron curtain between Russia and the West . Volkov : Putin is playing by his own rules , the West ca n't really do much to stop him .