Agreed. Crimea was once a part of Russia (as distinct from being a state incorporated into the Russian or Soviet empires) so there was a legitimate claim. Putin played needless games like sending in the “little green men” and soldiers on “vacation” and brazenly rigging the referendum but that was mainly playing to his domestic audience.
Ukraine, in contrast, is a distinct nation-state that has no interest in being part of Putin’s kleptocracy.
Unfortunately, advisors inspired by the ultra-nationalist Aleksandr Dugin are giving him a push in the opposite direction. Since expansionist behaviour is red meat thrown to his Know-Nothing supporters, re-building the old empire also suits Putin as a cynical way to maintain his power. If he gets Donbas he won’t stop there.
