Russian gov has quietly informed US embassy in Moscow it will remove the ban on employing Russian staff it announced with a lot of media coverage as a "reprisal" for expulsions of Russian diplomats in response to GRU activity on the ground and the Internet.
When US embassy said it will then only offer services to US citizens and suspends issuing visas to Russians, Kremlin quietly stepped back. Which kind of shows that Russian bargain is quite weak in such international sabre rattling.
What was the point of these interventions? None, apart from obsession of control and "teach them lesson", in spite of all evidence clearly witnessing to the inefficiency of Soviet economy, which led to stagnation and then ultimately to a tragic collapse in late 80's.
Back in 2000's Ukraine wasn't at all obsessed on joining NATO - mass protests (Orange revolution, then Euromaidan) had primarily economical background, which is understandable if you look at this:
