Ukraine has been in Russian sphere since at least 1850s. The Crimean War was fought to wrest Ukraine from the Ottomans. The Brits and French got involved in that fight due to their continental politics I suppose, perhaps something to do with their near East possessions.
Ukraine has a significant Orthodox Russian heritage population that pre-dates the USSR relocations and population balancing. Russia can (and really does) control that population quite easily.
It’s the Mohammedans invading Europe that are problematic. Just like in the Former Yugoslavia. I see a trend which started somewhere in the 1680s with Ottoman efforts to seize Vienna. Or maybe way back around 730s when Charles Martel kicked the Caliphate out of France.
The good news is that the continental Europeans have now decided to surrender to the foreign invaders so there will be less bloodshed now. Russia and Poland seem to be the exception; consistent with their history.
“The enemy stood two meters behind me, and I say, ‘Hello.” And he says, ‘Hello’ and he looks at me, like, ‘You’re a girl.’”
I suspect that if Russia really wanted to invade Ukraine, it could do so quickly. However, controlling the population might not be so easy.
https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2019...ar/161247/
Rule Britania, All for Brexit and Rule 303