They are all independent countries that have chosen to align themselves with NATO. They could align themselves with Russia if they so chose. But why would they do so, given that Russia was responsible for imposing totalitarian communist dictatorships on them for over 4 decades, complete with mass killings of "class enemies"?
Another bit I find especially amusing is the story about how Russia contributed enormously to Nazi Germany's defeat. It's literally true, but only after Russia contributed enormously to Nazi Germany's victories in the West by signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and serving as Germany's quartermaster for its blitzkrieg on the Western front. In effect, Russia helped put out a fire it helped set, but only after it had burned down much of the neighborhood and killed many of its neighbors (in the form of battle and concentration camp deaths in territories that would not have been conquered had Russia not given the Germans a free hand).. Ultimately, today's Russia is what Germany would have been like without a de-Nazification campaign. Russians think they saved the world, when they poured gasoline on it and struck a match. After WWII, they continued with a wicked campaign of spreading Godless totalitarianism with guns and Stalin-worshipers while urging the mass murder of class enemies. While I understand the tribal reflexes of ethnic Russians and pro-Russian Slavs, non-Russian Russophiles are overlooking a lot of things.
It’s good to know the history....But however Ukrainians and Russians in Ukraine want to remember it.... you will still have a divided Ukraine.
What’s the EU going to give Ukraine?.....who buy the way can’t stand on it’s own two feet regardless who is their leadership....they have enormous debt and on the edge of bankrutcy yet again....
If Ukraine thinks ultimately joining with NAto and then under the EU it pays to remember the nations such as Greece, Spain, Italy and others....what have they done for them and where are tthey today.
Russia today is not the Soviet Russia it was.....sure it’s got a ways to go but they are way far better off now then in the 90’s.....further Crimea and the Western half of Ukraine is highly Russian populated....they will continue to resist going with Nato.....
This isn’t about Nazi’s ....that’s history and well to know but it does not play out in the equations Russia and Ukraine are in now. This is not a continuation of the Cold WAr either, though many are trying to state so. It’s about trade...it’s about ports and access to resources and distribution of...it’s about leadership which will be co-operative with the Global Agenda On the World Stage.