This is a more recent article that offers a more nuanced perspective, even down to the title: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/15/why-crimea-is-volod

This is a more recent article that offers a more nuanced perspective, even down to the title: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/15/why-crimea-is-volodymyr-zelenskiys-greatest-bargaining-chip https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/15/why-crimea-is-... (The Guardian is pretty much pro-Ukraine, pro-war in general.)