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Ukraine was geographically and culturally part of Russia for centuries, only becoming independent in 1991 when the USSR collapsed.

• dragonwriter 9y ago
  > Ukraine was geographically and culturally part of Russia for centuries No, it wasn't, though much of it was politically, through conquest, part of Russia for a couple centuries (and a bit more of of it for just over one century) prior to the formation of the USSR, and there was certainly an intense effort by Russia to colonize Ukraine with Russians to break it's distinct culture during that period where much of it was under the Russian imperial rule. Clearly, you view Russia’s own territory as anything that has ever in the past been subjugated by Russia independently of where modern nation-states lie, and in that respect, sure, Russia may be primarily concerned with fighting wars to re-establish empire in those places. But that's not a sign of a peace-loving nation, but instead of a warmongering imperialist one that prioritizes restoring it's “glorious” past.
  • lostmsu 9y ago
    IMO it us wrong to equate USSR and Russia here. Russia did claim USSR heritage, but it is definitely not USSR.