The Russian strategy to create an exclusive sphere of influence in the countries of the former Soviet Union predates the Ukraine crisis. In 2008 already there was a war between Russia and Georgia, which was moving far too close to the West to Russia’s taste. That war led to two territories, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, breaking away from Georgia; only Russia recognises them as independent states. That gives an idea of what might be the future of the Donbass. Tensions with Russia were probably inevitable therefore, except if the EU had reduced relations with all of its eastern neighbours to a
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