Russia (supposedly) wants Ukraine because of the ever growing presence of NATO at its doorstep. EU aligning itself with BRICS would probably come with breaking away from NATO. However, I don't think this is the real reason Russia wants Ukraine and I don't think they could be persuaded into giving it up for the sake of bringing EU in.
But it would be a way that EU would choose to align itself with China, which would diffuse this particular situation
general1465|4 months ago
Never gonna happen. Eastern Europeans have massive hate boner for Russia, because they were effectively colonized for 40 years as "Eastern Block" and Putin is trying to repeat that.
> Russia (supposedly) wants Ukraine because of the ever growing presence of NATO at its doorstep.
Main point of division between Ukraine and Russia is the fact, that Ukrainians consider themselves as standalone nation, why Russians consider Ukrainians as part of Russia. As long as Ukraine or Ukrainians exists, (or as long as Russia is jingoistic state) there will be war between Russia and Ukraine. It is a repeated narrative for last 300 years.
deafpolygon|4 months ago
consumer451|4 months ago
I would normally qualify this type of statement as "just my take," but not in this case, as it is plain as day. They state it openly, and proudly.
Meanwhile, many in the USA and Europe still twist themselves into knots trying to come up with a more rational explanation.