This perception of and by people of that region is based on comparisons of their agricultural climate, and food production. Ukraine farmers produce twice the crop yield per acre as Russia in everything, due to a milder climate, longer growing season, better soil, and warm water maritime influence. Like a lake effect, only from the warm water of the Black Sea.

Crimea was USSR's only warm water resort area.

Ukrane is also rich in oil reserves. Hitler invated it in WWII for the oil. Putin wants it now for the oil.

Putin wanted Crimea back, so he took it. Success of that led to invasion of Ukraine. Putin expected to take that easily too. Trump is trying to make it easier. His peace plan gives Putin everything he wants, and Ukraine nothing but a guarantee Putin won't take more. Putin is less trustworthy than trump. He will try to take it all.

He already has Belarus.

He doesn't care about the "stans." Karak, Kyrzgs, Turkmen. They would be economic drains.

Russia is near insolvency, like when USSR occupied Afghanistan. Zelenskyy only needs to outlast Putin.

Trump understands nothing about any of this. He is an emotionally and behaviorally disturbed retard. That's why he calls people names, and uses people until they're no longer useful to him.

Trump admires Putin for his criminal ruthlessness, image of robust warrior like health. and playboy like, carefully guarded and protected private lifestyle.