Putin has been warning the Empire for for over a decade of the consequences of its actions.

This 2007 speech to the Munich Security Conference outlined precisely what Russia's position on continued NATO expansion would be.  Since that speech, the USA has taken an ever more aggressive stance toward Russia.  So aggressive that the US has withdrawn from arms control treaties that Russia continued to abide by until it became clear that there would be no return to an American position that would recognize Russia's concerns.

We are now on the verge of WWIII, with even the Wall Street Journal pushing nuclear war. 

If you'd like to watch John McCain and Lieberman in the front row exhibiting anger at Putin's call for peace, here it is.