Coveting Crimea–A Russian Obsession

Putin’s prodigal “Oblast.” Is it about rebuilding the Russian Empire? The inclusion of Russian speaking Ukrainians back into Mother Russia? Or is it really about controlling Ukraine’s vast natural resources?

If there is be a concession regarding the release of Ukrainian territory, the only argument of substance would have to be limited to Crimea. Until Khrushchev’s territorial release, it can be argued that it was never really apart of Ukraine. The majority of Russian speaking Ukrainians outside of Crimea still identify with Ukraine and not Russia.