[rexthecat]

Putin is correct when he says that Eastern Ukraine is Russian. The people speak Russian, not Ukrainian, and identify as Russian.

[ought-six]

“Putin is correct when he says that Eastern Ukraine is Russian. The people speak Russian, not Ukrainian, and identify as Russian.”

Well, that is the crux of the matter. But the majority of those ethnic Russians are actually more Pro-West than they are pro-Russia. The problem is that the Russian-centric Putin fully embraces the idea that it is Russia’s duty to come to the aid of ANY ethnic Russian, no matter where on the planet they may be, and whether or not they even want to be “rescued.”

Someone said that Russia is paranoid, but that has always been the case. A paranoid bully is very dangerous.

[tlozo]

Putin is correct when he says that Eastern Ukraine is Russian. The people speak Russian, not Ukrainian, and identify as Russian.

The only Ukrainian province with a majority of Russian speakers is Crimea.