For Vladimir Putin the moment of truth is fast approaching. In the wider interests of Russia, he should now step back, halt his invasion of Ukraine and try to salvage what is left of his damaged standing in the world.
By the end of this week the European Union will be ready to implement new sanctions on Russia’s businesses, energy suppliers and arms manufacturers. Nato will have agreed plans for a more muscular rapid reaction force ready to support eastern members of the alliance. Taking shape is a new European Commission that, with some exceptions, is no longer willing to give the Kremlin the benefit of the doubt in Ukraine or beyond. The freshly minted president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, wants the EU