The article is correct in explaining how Russian mentality works: they see the world as the enemy and define security accordingly.
What Crimeans — if that is even a proper word — want is not knowable till the Russian troops are gone from there. Last time there was a competitive referendum there, I think, in 1994, they voted to stay in the independent Ukraine.
The Russians need to get over the fact that absolutely any country to its West is afraid of them and would side with anyone who would pledge to protect them. Ukraine is no exception.
The only way for Russia to get out of this vicious cycle is to have some kind of program of national repentance, similar to how Germany decisively rid itself of Nazism.
Bump
Doubt it will happen