At about 1:20PM on 3/31 listening to npr (apologies for failing to get the name of the Russian professor who was assessing effect of sanctions on Russian oligarchs) she informed that the sanctions on Russian oligarchs were personally harming the oligarchs without effecting their influence on Putin.  This soundly reinforces the view from some people that Putin is challenging fascism (Western values) in Ukraine from a position of what may be ostensibly seen as the perspective of the concept of a Tsar. read more