Yes, it's always about needling an American. It can't have anything to do with geopolitics, because, you know, that'd be the far more complex option. There's always someone aiming to stab/poke/jab at somebody else, and someone else to act offended, respectively.

Begging the question is not engaging in a discussion. It's answering one explanation with another question, and then another.

Let's just cut through the passive-aggressive crap and see what your point is. Make a statement about Putin's rationale, as opposed to continuously questioning others about it. Let's explore your theory.