> Demographically, Russian speakers in this part were reliant on Ukraine for much of its access to natural resources and capital, there is a sense of being poor

> Demographically, Russian speakers in this part were reliant on Ukraine for much of its access to natural resources and capital, there is a sense of being poor and looked down upon by the Ukranians in the West and its exactly this class divide that fuels ethno-nationalism. Half of Ukraine speaks Russian, including most of Kyiv. It wasn't looked down until Russia started the aggression. If anything western Ukraine (being less wealthy) was stereotypized as less developed and Ukrainian language was associated with that. It became fashionable for Russian speaking Ukrainians to switch to speak Ukrainian after 2014 which is understandable. In short you're wrong about almost everything. > Ukraine was never part of the West and it can never be if you understand the military strategic value of its flatlands. Ukraine was part of the west for over 300 years and why should it matter anyway? Ukrainians have the right to decide what they want to do.