Quote Originally Posted by Ode to a Grasshopper View Post
Serious question - I've been dealing with some things for the past week or two and am not super-knowledgeable about the geopolitics of that particular region...

What's the point/advantage for Russia in taking Ukraine?
My understanding is that it is basically to put space between Russia and NATO territories. It also stops Ukraine joining NATO and putting their equipment right next door.

Putin claimed it was to get rid of Neo-Nazi's, stop Ukraine from killing ethnic Russians in the 2 break away areas, and to demilitarize the area. Putin's claim about Neo-Nazi's in Ukraine and the killings of ethnic Russians have been well debunked even before he said it the other day.

His mention of the break up of the USSR makes it sound more like he's just trying to reclaim the territories that were lost when the USSR broke up.
Almost like this Simpsons gag