MOSCOW - The situation in Russia is not just bad, but downright ugly. The main reason for the poor state of the Russian economy is the lack of an effective system for protecting property rights. The gradual dismantling of state institutions led first to a decline in investments, then to a sharp drop beginning in 2013, and finally to massive capital flight, with economic growth slowing to a halt by mid-2014.

Nas fans, by and large, are very similar to Knick fans. They rally around a past champion who put a city on his back at a time when she was an underdog fighting to reclaim prominence.

The Greater Europe project, which many politicians, experts and opinion makers from many European countries have been trying to promote since mid-1980s, now looks like a fantasy completely detached from reality. Neither Russia nor Europe can afford a new "Cold War."

Just two years ago, National Geographic featured the country of Crimea in its 2013 Best Trips report. All that changed last year. Russia sent troops into Crimea in early 2014. Regardless, the position of the United States is clear -- stay away from Crimea.