So I have been told by every one of my Russian friends, with much

indignation. I have yet to meet a Russian willing to accept the idea of

Ukraine as a separate nation. This is regardless of political complexion:

red and white Russians all agree — Ukraine is Russian! (Yes, I know Stalin

insisted on separate seats for Ukraine and Byelorussia in the original UN;

but that was part of the “nationalities” game that Stalin, and Lenin before

him, played. Neither of them had any intention of letting Ukraine behave

like an independent nation, as I am sure the UN voting records will show.)

Sample from one of my many e-mails on the topic: “What unfortunately all

the media deliberately fail to mention, (including my favorite conservative

sources like National Review, Weekly Standard, Tech Central Station) is the

ethnic aspect of the conflict. About 50% of population of what now is

called ‘Ukraine’, are ethnically Russians, small % of Jews, Greeks,

Moldavans, etc, who do not speak well Ukrainian language, who feel much more

affinity to Russian culture and Russia as a whole than to Ukrainian

culture…”

I am not endorsing this point of view, I’m just recording it. If my

contacts are representative, an armed incursion by Putin to restore Russian

control over the Ukraine would be overwhelmingly approved by Russians of all

political opinions. Presumably Putin knows this…