Quote:
Originally Posted by Pointman
How could gaining Ukrane make Russia any better? The costs are enormous. War is very expansive. Sanctions are huge. Infrastructure is largely shelled and requires massive investments to rebuild. Population is hostile and dreams of breaking away from Russia and joining West. Ukraine's natural resources are not all that great, if they were, the country would be in better shape to begin with. Other neighbours are rushing to join NATO. All Russia could get is some land. Russia is already the largest country in the world AND in Europe (European part of Russia is larger than any European country, including Ukrane). It would be a net negative for Russia.
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Putin doesn't want Ukraine.
Putin wants to restore Russia - ALL of Russia - back to what it once was. That includes Ukraine. For him, it is about Russian glory, restoring Russian land, and repatriating Russian people, back into his Russia.