Cambridge Dictionary definition. The action of frightening or threatening someone, usually in order to persuade them to do something that you want them to do.

The United States has a definition in the US code (18 USC § 1514(d)(1).  It is long and complicated but does provide a legal situations.

This brings us to Russian President Vladimir Putin who is probably a great fan of “Godfather.”  He wants control of Ukraine.  We don’t know all of his demands.  His threat is obvious.   

Putin denies there is any plan to invade Ukraine.  The war games Russia is conducting near the Ukrainian border is the threat and he know that.  Will there be a Neville Chamberlin moment as we watch from afar?

It’s too soon to say but Putin knows that Hitler did have his way in annexing Sudetenland (a major part of the former Czechoslovakia). It was appeasement instituted in the hope of avoiding war, appeasement was the name given to Britain’s policy in the 1930s of allowing Hitler to expand German territory unchecked.  Obviously it did note work.  Hitler took took British surrender to Hitler’s demand to annex and expanded his control over all of Europe.

The similarities should not be ignored.