How Russia's grab of Crimea 10 years ago led to war with Ukraine and rising tensions with the West

[Behind the Aegis]

A decade ago, President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine, a bold land grab that set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.

The quick and bloodless seizure of the diamond-shaped peninsula, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet and a popular vacation site, touched off a wave of patriotism and sent Putin's popularity soaring. “Crimea is ours!” became a popular slogan in Russia.

Now that Putin has been anointed to another six-year term as president, he is determined to extend his gains in Ukraine amid Russia's battlefield successes and waning Western support for Kyiv.

Putin has been vague about his goals in Ukraine as the fighting grinds into a third year at the expense of many lives on both sides, but some of his top lieutenants still talk of capturing Kyiv and cutting Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.

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[brer cat]

1. It's a disgrace that republicans are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Putin needed to be stopped here, and if he succeeds, he will keep going after European countries.

[NJCher]

2. They are going to let it through

When the recess is over in 2 weeks.

Read it here.

Waiting, even 2 weeks, is a disgrace.

[brer cat]

4. Thanks, I had missed that. Although, two more weeks...

a lot of people die.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. Moses Mike and the House Russiapublicans share the blame for deaths in Ukraine.