The President of Russia is also using the Ukraine as a bargaining chip with Western powers to ease their sanctions. Various political and financial sanctions are currently taking place against Russia, as well as potential friends and business partners.
As many analysts say, an attack on the Ukraine from Russia has the capacity to swift even more diplomatic discussions, which will eventually lead to admission to these sanctions. However, the cost of potential war with Ukraine can cost Russia a lot of money, so it would substantially cancel out the benefits.
Even though a full-blown attack on the Ukraine is improbable, Vladimir Putin might reaffirm the battling between the Ukrainian forces and separatists endorsed by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
