Ukraine may have existed, but it was not an independent country until 1992.
And was a Russian client until 2014.
It’s clearly within Russia’s traditional sphere of influence.
Those are inarguable facts.
Whether right or wrong or whatever.
“Ukraine may have existed, but it was not an independent country until 1992. And was a Russian client until 2014.”
Do you mean because it had agreements with Russia? Because if that is your criterion, half the nations on the planet would qualify as “Russian clients.”