They voted to leave the USSR not to renounce their Russian identity.
I don't think Russia was alone in producing that crisis. How would they benefit when they had no need to invade Crimea for 23 years because they maintained de facto control? And the threat was not "non-existent". Thousands died in the ensuing conflict, most of whom were Russian speakers in the East. Massacres in Odessa and Mariupol carried out by neo-Nazi groups were not "created by Russia" but actually happened.
Ukraine is split along cultural or ethnic/linguistic lines. The two eastern oblasts (Luhansk/Donetsk) are overwhelimingly Russian speaking and identify primarily as Russian (as Russo-Ukrainian). Same with Crimea. But that 85%-90% Russian identification rate doesn't hold outside those three oblasts. Overall, the east and SE generally identify as Russian speaking much more than the North and West, or what you could call Greater Ukraine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.
They voted to leave the USSR not to renounce their Russian identity.
OK lets see, correct me if I am wrong this I believe is the translated independence statement which was voted on.
"
VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE RESOLUTION
On Declaration of Independence of Ukraine
(Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady (VVR) 1991, #38, p. 502
The Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic r e s o l v e s that:
- Ukraine shall be declared an independent democratic state on August 24, 1991.
Upon declaration of its independence, only its Constitution, laws, orders of the Government, and other legislative acts of the republic are valid on the territory of Ukraine.
- A republican referendum shall be organized on December 1, 1991 to confirm the act of declaration of independence.
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR Leonid Kravchuk
Kyiv, August 24, 1991
#1427-XII
Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine
In view of the mortal danger surrounding Ukraine in connection with the state coup in the USSR on August 19, 1991,
Continuing the thousand-year tradition of state development in Ukraine,
Proceeding from the right of a nation to self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international legal documents, and
Implementing the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic solemnly declares
Independence of Ukraine and creation of the independent Ukrainian state - UKRAINE.
The territory of Ukraine is indivisible and inviolable.
From this day forward, the Constitution and laws of Ukraine only are valid on the territory of Ukraine.
This act comes into force upon its approval.
VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE
August 24, 1991
"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They voted for independence as a nation. It wasn't a USSRexit. Particularly note,
"The territory of Ukraine is indivisible and inviolable."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,
I don't think Russia was alone in producing that crisis
If the Russian govt had continued to accept Ukrainian independence as Yeltsin had said it would then none of this would have happened. The change in stance by Putin and the continued negative interference in Ukrainian politics did more to drive Ukraine to look west than anything the US or the EU did. You can not beat your ex wife back into loving you.
So yes, Russia alone is responsible for the Maidan crisis because of the attempt to force Ukraine into the Eurasia block and yes Russia has to own the culpability for this invasion.
It is all about the same thing. Ukraine isn't part of Russia anymore and Putin doesn't like that.