The West literally led a coup against Yanukovych because he wasn't playing good cop/bad cop between Russia and the West.
There was no "coup" in Ukraine.
Yanukovich is a rapist and a petty criminal who rose to the top seat in dirty Post-Soviet Ukraine. The Parliament delivered the EU association agreement for signature. He moved to place Ukraine back in a subordinate position to Russia, as part of Putin's never-ending attempt to reconstitute the Evil Empire.
This was unacceptable to the people, and he got nexted for Petro Poroshenko, the Chocolate King.
Russia had already made the statement that they would not tolerate NATO encroaching up to their border...
Russia never stops making "statements" about their "Zone of Special Privelage" where other countries should do what the Neo-Soviets tell them... the "deeply unfair" rules based international order and how it is keeping them from advancing the Hammer and Sickle banner on Europe, "Eurasianism vs. Atlanticism," Authoritarianism labeled "Traditionalism" vs Liberty labeled "Western Liberal Ideology," blah blah
If Russia doesn't want more NATO guns pointed at them, why do they keep invading the former satellites and trying to reconstitute the former Soviet Union?
They invaded Georgia and Ukraine because they were weak nations- NATO added Finland two years ago with a much larger border and a more competent military. Sweden also joined last year- and the Swedes know what's up.
LOL- Rooskie Chessmaster strategic genius type stuff...
You mention "the Iron Curtain" and "Soviet". That is so 80's.
Putin has zero interest in a new Warsaw Pact or Soviet empire. Today's Russia is not yesterdays Communist Soviets.
Change is slow in that part of the world, but Russia doesn't change.
The same old siloviki control the state industries... except now they are considered to be private industries. Do you think they have any professional knowledge of the businesses that they ostensibly operate? It's the same old Commie games with empty warehouses that were supposed to be full of uniforms for the invasion.
...and do you think it's an accident that they still have USSR Hammer and Sickle belt buckles? Is it also an accident that they fly the Hammer and Sickle banner from their tanks?
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin said:
Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains.
Putin sees himself as the Architect of the Soviet Union 2.0, and they call it neo-Soviet. I would call it 2.0, but that's because I'm an American.
Putin made an ultimatum to Ukraine and the West. Both ignored him...
Putin literally asked for a cease fire,
Again... Putin is not in a position to dictate terms. He's been hollering "Help!" for a while.
The problem that he faces is:
IT DON'T STOP. IT DON'T STOP. IT DON'T STOP.
Manafort a Commie/Dictator nexus? Mueller a great American but Flynn a traitor? Holy crap.
Are you not up to speed?
Manafort was the registered-DC-lobbyist for the biggest shitbirds on the Planet Earth- Viktor Yanukovych, Ferdinand Marcos, Mobutu Sese Seko, Jonas Savimbi... he grew wealthy betraying his country.
Flynn betrayed his country to the neo-Soviets AND AL QAEDA in exchange for what he thought was going to be a position of wealth and power in the Trump-45 admin. He was
super, super lucky to get pardoned by Trump before sentencing... and he ended up crawling out of MAGA penniless and broken- pledging allegiance to QANON of all things when last he poked his head out of his hole.