... I think US and the West need to have an enemy to direct public attention there instead of their own economic problems. The funny (or sad) thing is that the economic war they started against Russia is going to hit them back just like a boomerang.
The tit-for-tat trade embargoes are ridiculous. Even if we accept the mainstream Russian position that the West are aggressors and acting on behalf of western oligarchs, Putin's reaction is surely going to be harmful to the Russians.Nobody forced him to restrict trade with the EU. As a "counter move" it's either stupid and emotional, or he's being cruel and cynical. And/or there are additional factors that are invisible to us lay Internet plebs. By restricting international trade, the Russian government eliminates a lot of foreign competition. On an intellectual level, that sounds about the same as deciding to stop going to the gym or stop doing arithmetic exercises, so that you don't have to experience brain discomfort. Could he really be that emotional? Maybe Putin felt pressured to please the Russians even more, despite already being very popular?
Alternatively, maybe he cynically thought, "if that's what they want, I'll give it to them." ?
Sorry Blah Blah - but could you just elucidate that to which it is you are referring when you say "occupied Siberia" ? Is this the new black propoganda buzzword angle from the US billionaires hegemony machine, pre private US security firm covert placement in Volgograd 
?
