This is also a clear message to populations in America's satellite states – "Be ready to die fighting when we decide to sacrifice you for 'freedom and democracy', 'rules-based international order' and 'the greater good.'"

In reality, the "purely defensive alliance" never stopped fighting the Cold War, its raison d'etre.

The price cap is just another move for domestic consumption as the political West desperately tries to pretend it’s still in control.

America has a choice - it can stop its global aggression and try to resolve mounting internal issues or implode under the weight of its own imperial overstretch.

The US government commission urged for more support (clearly implying actual support exists already) to separatist movements inside Russia and in the diaspora.

Despite Russia's genuinely honorable intentions, in the eyes of the ever-belligerent political West, this proved to be exactly what Medvedev said - a weakness.