Jon-Erich on 03 March 2014
He wants political influence in that region. Even after the Cold War ended, it was clear that Russia and the West still didn't see eye to eye politically. Ukraine's new government is a pro-Western government and the last thing Putin wants is a pro-Western government on Russia's border. It's the same reason why China still supports North Korea's existence. They do not want a pro-American Korean government to border China. Also, with both China and Russia, less political influence over their neighbors means having less of an upper hand in economic affairs as well as political influence.
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