There is no "improving relations" with a tyrant who disrespects sovereign borders in Europe, sews dissent and murders reporters and political rivals, and has visions of becoming the dominant new czar over old soviet Eastern Europe.   Some highly educated leaders once appeased a country-grabbing Hitler too, just before he systematically murdered six million Jews, as well as cost the lives of tens of millions in a desperately fought world war that the appeasement led to.   When Putin leaves illegally occupied Crimea, Georgia and Ukraine, then one might have reason to be hopeful the current sanctions have worked.  For now, the author had better take off his rose colored glasses and get real. You cannot appease a tyrant or a bully. Putin has proven to be both.