“By reacting as he did Putin didn't get what he wanted and is not likely to.” I don’t know really if Putin had intention and master plan, as I think he reacted more than he anticipated. I think he’s got what he wanted in saving (in his point of view) what could be saved when the mob expelled a more favourable Ukrainian President and put openly adversaries in power. He’s got Crimea, and no one really speak about it anymore. Ukraine will be a buffer zone. In fact, all moves from EU, US and actual Ukrainian Government gave him edges to work on. With NATO troops in Ukraine, he is now sure that Ukraine will never be reunited (without a victorious war for NATO). With EU policy he might have access to Greek Ports soon, or at least, might have someone willing to stop any new EU sanctions (rule of unanimity) and even brake the sanctions actually in place.

“to split the EU's unified position on relations with Russia in general and on the sanctions in particular.” What united or unified EU positions? They agreed on a minimum service and some are quiet keen in seeing them vanished. And thanks to EU policy against Greece, it might explode (or implode) soon.

“Is the EU as led by Germany and France the new oppressor of sovereign nation states?” I have unfortunately to answer yes to this. Germany by its policy and France being the lap dog in this case are responsible of a real human tragedy in Greece (as in Spain, Italy, Portugal) as they forget we are speaking of millions of human being push to extreme poverty in mane of an ideology. Where is the European Union, protecting the poor, creating jobs and building the peace? The only speech coming from EU is pay pay pay, cut cut cut, bleed bleed bleed, die die die. If possible in silence. They killed democracy in sham referendum. They fear the populations. They want sacrifices they won’t impose to themselves.