Russia's presence in the Russian-speaking city is also a symbol of wider influence across the post-Soviet space.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine and Russia

Yet unless Ukraine does better, it will stay trapped in the post-Soviet space.

ECONOMIST: A country caught precariously between east and west

So while I think Gabe is right that some sort of grand bargain in which Russia exchanges support for Syria for guarantees about American behavior in the post-Soviet space would be win-win, it will simply never happen unless the domestic political situation in the US changes beyond all recognition.

FORBES: You Can Actually See the Russian Realpolitik From Land Here in Washington

Nazi aerospace engineers pioneered the jet engine and their early work on rockets laid the foundations for the post-war space programs of both the United States and the Soviet Union.

FORBES: Globalism and Technology: A Hidden Misconception That Dooms the U.S. Economy