Ian Brzezinski, senior fellow for the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, is quoted by CNBC on Russia’s aggressive moves in Crimea:
“It is very clear that Russia is positioning itself to formulate a secessionist movement there,” said Ian Brzezinski, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council focused on trans-Atlantic security.
“These guys in uniforms, all carrying the same assault weapons—these are not indigenous groups out of Crimea,” Brzezinski said of the gunmen who occupied government buildings in Crimea before Russian troops began to move. “This is an organized, orchestrated effort by clearly trained military units. These forces didn’t show up without Putin’s approval.”