The blue and tan map is very misleading. For one thing, (assuming that it is in the least accurate), it only shows majorities. Then it assumes that everyone goes with their linguistic affinities.
The fact is that Russian and Ukrainian languages are very similar, and there is a long joint history. The Rus dynasty of Kiev is looked upon as the beginning of Russia.
A professor from one of the Siberian universities wrote that there is no reason why Russia and Ukraine should not live in peace on the friendliest of terms. They are in many ways as close as English-speaking Canadians and Americans. The violence is manipulated. The professor promptly lost his position, and will have to find other work.
Nowhere is anyone mentioning the religious differences among the population of Ukraine. Yet Ukrainians ghet along. There is even considerable intermarriage. It is clear that the problems are stirred up from the outside. The motive is also clear: Putin wanted Crimea for its naval access, and now he wants more direct access to Crimea. He also fears any prosperity in Uraine, or anything which might compare well with Russia. He also wants a greater Russia.
Dictators who can make it at home (with low productivity and discontent) ofttimes turn to foreign aggression. Putin likes to look tough. We can speculate, for what personal failings is he compensating? But what we see for sure is than he is cunning, brutal,m and aggressive. He is not a nice guy.
What you been smokin? Between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine is the basket case.
“The motive is also clear: Putin wanted Crimea for its naval access, and now he wants more direct access to Crimea.”
Putin already had naval access to Crimea. What he couldn’t allow was Western Control over that access.
I keep coming back to a primary point.
If the Obama Administration hadn’t destabilized an already unstable Ukraine, backing the most violent and ideological groups in the Maidan in an attempt to “get back” at Putin for the Syrai b—chslapping, there would still be a Ukrainian Flag flying over Crimea, and the Western provinces.