The majority of Russians support the idea of Ukraine’s continued existence as an independent state, believing Russia is better off not having Kiev in its political and economic manacles.
Although Ukraine has been an independent state since the collapse of the Soviet Union, pro-European political forces in the country have faced stiff opposition from the Russian state, which relies on Ukraine in order to export gas westward, and also maintains significant trade and a military base there.
Since 2014 Russian-backed forces have been fighting Ukraine’s military in eastern Ukraine, in apparent opposition to the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian government and arrival of …read more
Source: Newsweek
