Thus The Wall Street Journal today. “The EU signed trade-and-political agreements with three countries near Russia’s borders, pushing the bloc’s influence eastward, but potentially provoking tensions with Moscow,” elaborates the newspaper. Pictures of José Manuel Barroso, Herman van Rompuy, and Petro Poroshenko smiling from ear to ear are all over the World Wide Web. Congratulations, Eurocrats! It is Vladimir Putin’s turn now. The only thing that is sure about his reaction is that he will not be dealing with a pencil-and-paper exercise. Instead, his reaction will be tangible, palpable, and substantial, not to say physical. This is where the Eurocrats are no match. Even America under Barack Obama that protects their backs is no match for Russia. Not that I am gloating, I hasten to add, but lamenting. The European Union is but a joke.