This comment is getting down voted pretty hard. Im not pro-Russia by any means, but I did take a minute to imagine what it would be like to live with (more?) missile silos pointing at me at the boarder of my country. I didn't have to think too long, you can read about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

This pushes the justification for Putin's response away from "unprovoked and savage".

IMO I think the US is partially responsible for this crisis. We've never stopped expanding our influence, for better or worse. Perhaps we pushed a little too hard here.

</armchair>

(edit: changed pro-russia to pro-Putin. E2: Flipped again)