Two months later, and Kyiv's small – albeit astonishing – occupation of Russian territory is going strong. Western officials don't understand how.

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According to "The Moscow Times," there was hope for an agreement between Russia and Ukraine as recently as this summer, with both sides planning to make peace in Qatar. However, Putin suddenly changed his mind.

Moscow's forces are poised to capture all of Luhansk, which, along with the neighboring Donetsk Oblast, form the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.