其地区威权显然受到乌克兰日益亲欧情绪的威胁，因此俄罗斯入侵并吞并了克里米亚，并开始支持东乌克兰的分裂主义叛军，促使美国和欧洲对其实施日益严厉的政治和经济制裁。
With its regional authority apparently threatened by rising pro-European sentiment in Ukraine, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and began supporting separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, prompting the US and Europe to impose increasingly tough political and economic sanctions.