Isn't Putin's "success" at the top merely the successful application of the adage "when in Rome..."?

The adage at the moment is “when not in Kiev”.

But when not in Kiev, ExxonMobil and Shell were exploiting those newly discovered and very rich Ukrainian gas fields. They were just in the process of initial drilling, threatening Russia’s EXCLUSIVE hold as Europe’s single exporting petro state. That threat has been eliminated. Ukraine has neither the expertise nor means to obtain that gas. ExxonMobil & Shell were sent packing leaving guess who to seize that equipment and exploit those riches?

No.