Why Ukraine Matters to Vladimir Putin

[0] From New York Times, I'm Megalabobarro.

[1] This is the daily.

[2] Today, Russia is making preparations for what many fear may be a full -scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting warnings from the U .S. of serious consequences if it does.

[3] I spoke to my colleague, Moscow Bureau Chief Anton Treyanovsky, about what Vladimir Putin wants from Ukraine, and just how far he may go.

[4] to get it.

[5] It's Wednesday, December 8th.

[6] Anton, describe the scene right now on the border between Ukraine and Russia.

[7] What does it look like?

[8] What exactly is happening there?

[9] Well, what you're seeing on the Russian side of the border within 100 to 200 miles away is that thousands of Russian troops are on the move.

[10] The top military officials says intelligence shows nearly 100 ,000 Russian troops.

[11] Russian troops have massed on the border of Ukraine.