I think you’re misunderstanding those sentiments. A lot of people living in Easter Ukraine ARE ethnic Russians. That’s why they see themselves as Russian. Because they are not ethnic Ukrainians.
That’s literally how settler colonialism works. You occupy the land, and claim it as your own.
Well, yes, they are ethnic Russians. I didn’t mean to say that they were Ukrainians that saw themselves as Russian, but residents of Ukraine. Eastern Ukraine was historically Russian, and only given to Ukraine in the 20th century, so it’s a bit messy.
It isn’t “messy” at all. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine declared its independence, and the newly formed Russian Federation agreed to the new borders.
Russia no longer has any right to that territory, no matter how many ethnic Russians still live there.
I think you’re misunderstanding those sentiments. A lot of people living in Easter Ukraine ARE ethnic Russians. That’s why they see themselves as Russian. Because they are not ethnic Ukrainians.
That’s literally how settler colonialism works. You occupy the land, and claim it as your own.
Well, yes, they are ethnic Russians. I didn’t mean to say that they were Ukrainians that saw themselves as Russian, but residents of Ukraine. Eastern Ukraine was historically Russian, and only given to Ukraine in the 20th century, so it’s a bit messy.
It isn’t “messy” at all. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine declared its independence, and the newly formed Russian Federation agreed to the new borders.
Russia no longer has any right to that territory, no matter how many ethnic Russians still live there.
Except the west coup’d Kiev and installed Banderites that caused Donetsk and Luhansk to secede, and ask Russia for support.
No. They didn’t. Students in Ukraine organized those protests. And it was Russian soldiers that started the fighting in the East.