Russians can be difficult to understand and can take offence.
Russians have always been difficult for the English (in particular) to understand. My observation recently being they can be wonderful, funny and generous people whilst also simultaneously very serious, and may not get the gist of jokes or innuendo which we deliver. And may take offence when none is intended.
I think you must need the wisdom of Solomon if you presently are a diplomat working within Europe's Governments, so many differing agendas. Why is Merkel so keen on advancing the EU into the Ukraine, was it strictly a increase in German trade and thus money thing?
My Dad told me never to poke a stick at an animal in its cage and it was good advice.
* Putin is simply very traditional Soviet era Russian - Soviets made him the man he is. I believe he sees the West as fairly corrupt (I'd love to read the files he has about Cameron, Obambam and more) and opportunist and untrustworthy and he wants to keep us at an arms length, is this so hard for the west to grasp?