Thoughts on Ukraine and Putin's Actions

Although I realize Ukrainian possession of Crimea is muddied with the past hegemony of Russia over that territory, there is no question of the illegality of the pretext used by the Russians to invade. The suggestion that the language spoken by any group of people automatically places them under the authority of any specific government is so absurd that it needs no qualification. Also, the thought that Russians feel a kinship to many who live outside their borders is not questioned. I feel the same kinship with other English speaking peoples. I have been concerned by hostile actions taken by peoples around the world in the name of their gods, their lusts, their irrational fears, etc., but have never been chilled by the actions of any group as I have been by the events surrounding this 'theft' of a land and people belonging to another. Putin is an ego-maniacal gangster, period. The best thing the free world could do is to fight him now, or we will soon be experiencing the next World War. Adolf Hitler used virtually the same kind of pretext to expand the territory of Nazi Germany until he was strong enough to resist efforts to stop him, he would never stop until stopped. My father died in that effort because cowards failed to say stop when they could. It may already be too late this time. If there is a nation on this planet that should understand what Putin is doing, it is modern Germany. The staunchest resistance to Russian aggression in the Ukraine should come from them. Where are they? As weak as the US appears to be in this crisis, we are not the world's nanny. Yet, I applaud the efforts we do take, since we seem to be doing more than others. Where is the UN? Where is the EU? Putin seems to be on the verge of attempting to re-form the Soviet Union, and without outside help, those lands will not be able to resist. Shame!