The "conquest" of Crimea was a response to an implied threat to a natural gas trade with Europe in the followup of a western-sponsored coup. (to be even more s

The "conquest" of Crimea was a response to an implied threat to a natural gas trade with Europe in the followup of a western-sponsored coup. (to be even more specic, Crimean events were mostly about regaining the control of the Black Sea Fleet naval base, while Donbass events were about reacting to a hostile coup, but the two things are closely related) It was also an object lesson to all the minor powers in the region: you cannot take US money to have a small victorious colour revolution anymore. Not in Russia's backyard. edit: oh wow downvotes, I am so surprised /s