Why does Putin want Ukraine?

Coal, iron ore to make steel and oil. Plus a port that stays ice free most winters.

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Coal, iron ore to make steel and oil. Plus a port that stays ice free most winters.

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Gotcha. I didnt realize Ukraine had these resources.

Bread Basket of Europe

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Wants to put the band back together

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Yep. Except he's more interested in rebuilding the Russian Empire than the USSR.

Russia has a shitton of ice and Tundra. I'm thinking this has more to do with a pipekine to Europe and to a lesser extent a port in the Black Sea.

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Russia is huge enough as it is. What resources does Ukraine have that Russia needs?

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Communism is, always has been, and always will be, a geopolitical movement. History has shown that because of its innate flaws, Communism (especially the Putin-style authoritarian kind) cannot exist whilst surrounded by democratic, free countries. Otherwise it will be exposed as a failed system and its leadership's power will be threatened. You either have to A) shut yourself and your people off to the world (North Korea, Cuba), or B) entrench upon any neighboring countries that may expose your violations of freedom and humanity.

Rohan2Reed, that is one of the best and most insightful posts on this board that I have seen. It transcends the usually my team vs your team hackery.

If you like your old country, you can keep your old country.

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A very lucrative pipeline system that leads to Europe.

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You are a forward thinker

To put it politely, the economic arguments are political science BS.

Moscow is far more concerned with the emergence of a Russophobic government in Kiev, the potential for civil war, and the welfare of Russians in Ukraine. The historical and cultural ties are also important.