Russia’s actions towards Ukraine have a lot to do with Ukraine’s government going Fascist and partnering with the western powers. Crimea is a historically important port for Eastern Europe, and it’s a historically vital port for Russia. Ukraine could use NATO’s military strength to enact a soft-sanction on Russia via limiting Russia’s use of the port. The annexation of Crimea was a strategic war to ensure Russia doesn’t get bullied into regression. Like the Afghan War, it’s not very fortunate and there’s a lot to be critical of. But, also like the Afghan War, there were valid strategic justifications for the war and those justifications never get spoken about in non-CSTO spheres of influence.

I’m not fully in support of the annexation of Crimea, but it’s dishonest to oppose it fully when discontinued use of the port could mean economic and logistical troubles for the Russian Federation and its trading partners.