“must” we? I don’t see that we “must” at all.
The Eastern portion of Ukraine is filled with ethnically Russian, and Russian speaking people who would rather be part of Russia. OK. So why not just let them go? Why would the world suddenly come to an end if the Donbas became part of Russia?
Furthermore, why the hell should the US be willing to fight about it? This is not vital to our national security.
This is what governments do when they have so screwed up their domestic policies that there is large scale discontent among the population. Look at the polls for Biden and the Democrats. Not only the Democrats, but also the establishment Republicans and the “permanent” government. They need to give the public a foreign enemy to focus their anger on, and before election time. Considering the level of corruption in the Ukraine, it would be the perfect place for a war. Just think of all the money the establishment could steal as Washington once again throws enormous sums of money at another problem they have created.
“The Eastern Ukraine is ethnic Russian”
And how often have we fallen for the neocon trick about polls, or surveys, or testimony from experts, about how a majority of [Vietnamese, Iraqis, Afghans, Somalis, Kosovars, Libyans, now Ukrainians] want freedom and democracy, or what passes for them in globohomo, and all they need is a few rifles, and some advisers to show them what toilet paper is for, and an offer of NATO membership, and...