If you think of the gradual creeping of NATO forces and military installations towards the Russian border, the latest UK/US/France strike in Syria and this whole Skripal farce with the expulsion of Russian diplomats, Putin has exercised tremendous restraint.

Had the shoe been on the other foot and Putin had camped out on the other side of the Mexican or Canadian border, the US would not have been so patient.

When you look at Russian history, after 25 Million dead during World War Two and a tough post-soviet recovery, it is not in the interest of the Russia to be in any war.

Putin may be a patriot, but he his not an expansionist.