The world's attention is on eastern Ukraine, where Moscow's forces circle. Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions extend far beyond. He wants to renegotiate the end of the Cold War.

Whatever follows Russia's large-scale military manoeuvres, and the announcement on 21 February to recognise the independence of two breakaway Ukrainian regions and orders to send troops there, Putin has made clear he wants to redraw the post-Cold War security map of Europe.