Except if you've followed Ukrainian politics since, say, 2000, you'd also know that those regions were always very pro-Russian. Yanukovych came to power twice

Except if you've followed Ukrainian politics since, say, 2000, you'd also know that those regions were always very pro-Russian. Yanukovych came to power twice (including after the Orange Revolution politicians self-destructed) because of it. Without them voting in Ukrainian elections, the entire political scene in Ukraine has shifted towards the West and become somewhat more stable... Ukrainian politicians can't admit it but they don't actually want those regions back.