> No, this is Putin's baby. He's set it up so that if he can't have Ukraine,
> nobody will.

No, it is quite likely that the coup in Ukraine was instigated and
organized by U.S. interests.

There are a lot of interests that would have good reason to do so.

Economic: Soros, Geithner, and pals have been looking to depress the
Russian currency for years. At least back to 2008, that I am aware of. One
can speculate why, the simplest reason is to make money themselves.

NATO: Yanukovych's government was Russian-leaning, while there were
"Orange Revolution" leaning politicians, activists, and so on in Western
Ukraine. Having Ukraine be Russian-leaning, and theoretically independent
puts NATO in a difficult position. Poland and Romania are NATO members,
with Ukraine right between them. For supply-line and airspace reasons, it
is strongly desirable to NATO interests to bring Ukraine under the
umbrella. This also provides another, angle of attack on Moscow.

Understand the situation: NATO is encircling Moscow. Estonia and Lativa to
it's NW, Lithuania due-West, with Belarus as a buffer. Both countries are
positioned to place rockets within 800km of Moscow. If Ukraine were to go
NATO, it also would be able to position rockets or troops within 800km of
Moscow from the SW, with no buffer. Assuming Russia is unconcerned about
Lithuania, trusting Belarus to be able to intercept any aerial attacks,
that still leaves the possibility for simultaneous attacks from two
directions.

It is entirely unacceptable, from a purely strategic of view. These
nations going to NATO represents an existential threat to Russia.

Putin's response, of "taking" Crimea, was quite measured, in my opinion.
The Black Sea is of vital national interest. Were  NATO able to get a
carrier group into the to Black Sea, along with the other listed
positions, it would be impossible to stop the capital from getting
captured in an invasion.

Finally, your suggestion that Putin is somehow not letting the "poor
Ukrainians" from exercising their rights is blinded. The fact is, there
are BOTH strong pro-Western, and pro-Russian sides to Ukraine. This is not
a recent development. The tensions have been there for several
generations.

Whether you like it or not, it is Putin's job to protect his country and
to prevent the very ABILITY for foreign nations to have that potential,
regardless of whether or not you believe NATO has the will to do so.
Regardless of the will, it should not be POSSIBLE from Russia's
perspective.

That said, it is also arguably NATO's job to expand, and to position
itself so that Russia joining NATO, becomes the only strategy left to the
Russians.

This, of course, is called Empire