Why is Vladimir Putin so obsessed with Ukraine? 

“Put these seeds in your pocket so at least sunflowers will grow where you lie” just gave me chills

in 1939, Stalin thought the Finns would welcome a Soviet invasion, especially the Red Finns who had lost the civil war a few years earlier. However, being Finnish was more important and so you had the reds and the whites coming together against a foreign foe as Finns. Very few collaborated and the Soviet losses were devastating. Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

Great bit of work I live the comparisons you draw which make it so much more simple to understand

As long as his last scene does not include a Nuke, If so it will be everyone's last scene.

Hey Vlad, you should make Russia a province of Mongolia if you want to repeat the history again.

I Left Ukraine as a 7 year old in 2002 - He is right in the sense that Russia and Ukraine are very intertwined, many of my relatives had moved there from Russia. However, Ukraine was always its own entity and constantly fought for its own freedoms throughout history. My mum had always hated Putin 🤣I didn't really ever fully understand why until 2014 and onwards.

Three words to summarize the motive: “Warsaw Pact, NATO”, the rest just read your history book, you would understand why he did it. Just read up

Well, that's one version of history. The truth is never buried deep.

You can't just occupy a country because your ancestors lived there 2000 years ago

I'm not a fan of the conservatives but I do applaud Stephen Harper for refusing Putin's handshake and telling him to "get out of Crimea" in 2014, long before it was "fashionable"

Thank you for this great resumé of the situation.

One man can cause hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions to suffer ever lasting pain and sorrow. We are a strange species.

I am Ukrainian , seeing first days of war brought all this memories and made me cry . Thank you for coverage

Seeing toddlers being carried in active war zones is some of the most terrible imagery I could ever imagine

Thank you for this great information

I loved that Shakespeare comparison! but to think that there's still three more scenes to come is frightening

I guess by Putin’s logic then Italy has a right to take over all of France, Spain, North Africa and England because the Roman Empire owned all of it…

To follow Putin's "logic", Ukraine is the parent country. Putin should resign in favor of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia should be handed over to Ukraine, and the capitol should be moved to Kyiv.

The logic of "we share the same ethnicity and language therefore we are one country" is not only an overly simplistic one but one that contradicts history in many ways... the Singaporean PM was the one who spoke out against that and you can't help but think that many Asian countries are worried

perfectly well described!

Another interesting historical fact to consider to add to this all: The Cyrillic alphabet used by both Russia and Ukraine, originated in what is now Southern Bulgaria/Northern Greece, commissioned during the First Bulgarian Empire. Our histories are intertwined, sure, but we also have a right to shape our histories going forward. I guess by Putin’s logic, Bulgaria should be annexing all Slavic countries still using Cyrillic today as part of a New Bulgarian Empire, because hey, we gave y’all the gift of writing, which led to your literature, and hence helped shape your cultures. Seems logical to me! (Sarcasm, if it wasn’t evident)

"At least put these seeds in your pockets so that sunflowers will grow where you lie." That's raw.

So, this actually wasnt about a perceived obssesion or, logically following, reasons for the invasion. There was however, much projection!

Just saying when they do eventually make a movie/tv series about this, it's going to be absolute fire

Another key detail not covered is that Ukraine was acknowledged as a "separate" and "voluntary" country within the USSR - as on paper its constitution allowed for independence any time it wished. The problem was any Ukraine actually working for independence was either arrested or assassinated.

As a Ukrainian I’m very glad that west now see all those crazy history speculations and other reality that russia build inside it’s own country and society. There is much more things to know about why we are absolutely different people with Russians and why we newer been their allie or part of territory. We always was a forced victim and couldn’t resist without help but now we are not alone. As all other Ukrainians, I’m sure that with our will to fight and you help we will finally break that endless circle of forced « friendships » with them. And look like we are already wining.

But where is the Donbass' part of this story? Why not even a word about it?

6:06 Belgium: hold my croissant

Vladimir Putin is a lunatic . I admire the Ukrainian citizens fighting for their country🙏 .

As a former 2 year old, I feel the man's pain.

Thank you so much I have learnt so much from this ..

0:40 The funny part about that is that those guys were called the _Kievan Rus'_ or _Kyivan Rus'_ and when you look at their seals you can clearly see who has the heritage today. So one could argue that there's a stronger argument to be made for Russia to the part of Ukraine than vise versa...

Putin isn't just obsessed about Ukraine. It just happened to be the first country on his shopping list, that he thought would be a pushover. Of course, now that it isn't he knows that losing there also means losing power, and possibly his life too. Hence the reason he will never stop of his own free will.

I recall a failed painter using the same phrase "historycal land" "restore our nations territory" . Things didnt go well for him.

That's one way to see it.

brotherly.....yes how brutal insane you treat your brother...

This claim to Ukraine and its heritage on the basis of a history-inspired fan fiction is pretty much like either Portugal or Romania proclaiming itself the sole successor to the Roman Empire and claiming Rome (and all of modern Italy, of course) based on that

Now he is thinking: "If I can't get Ukraine no one else will"

great analysis...the begining of the end, it is.

4:26 that was a perfect throw!

Ukraine has just about everything. Major sea port terminals, flat & rich soil, grain & other stuff. Several nuclear powerplants. Untapped natural gas & oil.

Something important to know, for all who are interested in history and/or support Ukraine: Rus’ ought not to be confused with “Russia”, which derives its name from the Rus’ but historically is a completely different state, which almost all its existence was at war with the Rus’. Just like the Holy Roman Empire was actually Germany, Russia is actually Muscovy, despite their best attempts to convince everybody otherwise. Its name “Russia" received only in 1721, when Peter I passed a decree to change Tsardom of Muscovy’s name into the “Russian” Empire (“Russia” originates from Rosia, name used by the Greek Orthodox Clergy in regards to Kyivan Rus') Under the reign of Cathrine II Muscovites where even punished for continuing to identify as Muscovites, and were forced to call themselves “Russian”. Lands that “Russia” claims were part of the original Rus’, but actually weren't, are Novgorod, Suzdal, and Ryazan, since in historical texts of XI-XII centuries they are mentioned as separate entities from Rus’. They can be considered parts of extended Rus’, although their culture was distinct from main Rus’. In 1493 Moscow prince Ivan III appointed himself to be the Great Ruler of All Rus’. No other kings acknowledged that. From that point on Muscovy started to make false claims on Rus’ ownership. “Russia” is an offshoot of Ukraine and not the other way round, despite what Soviet and “Russian” historians have been trying to say for years. Kiev was a developed cultured capital when Moscow was just another swamp village. Germany used to call itself the Holy Roman Empire, that didn’t mean they became the Romans, and all of a sudden had a right to claim whole of Italy and its history, but yet, that’s exactly what “Russia” did in regards to Rus’-Ukraine, which is a horrible injustice!

His main problem is ukraine joining nato. That would make moscow very vulnerable and be a huge risk for their national security.

Thank you for clear concise and un-emotional reporting on a complex subject matter from a seasoned experienced reporter.

Is not important what he wants, Important is what people wants!! It’s just a sick ambition if one man

Putin is like an abusieve ex husband that cant take it that his partner left him because it wanted a better life.

here after the absurd interview of Carlson - Putin, basically Putin reiterated the same ideas. Spent half an hour talking history just as this correspondent explained. Putin is a madman

He's more obsessed with not finishing what he started, this is not going to end well for everyone

That elderly Ukrainian woman at 8:55 is a legend. The Russian soldiers should have listened to her.

Seriously...? "We are one people"... And if you don't like it, I will destroy you all?

Excellent summary, thank you. Slava Ukraini!

Quite precise it is...

Freedom to Ukraine from Bosnia 💛💙

I still have hope that the Western world will put liberty over comfort and that Putler won't divide us. We need to constantly speak up against the Kremlin regime and support Ukraine. Slava Ukraini !

I think this all changes now. Great piece of video making here.

Excellent, informative and convincing video!

The poor guy hasn’t picked up a new time zone in such a long time…

7:50 This minister actually messes up a moment before this and says he supports the annexation of Luhansk and Donetsk. It's pretty incredible

I absolutely LOVE videos like this! Thought provoking, informative, gripping and immensely educational! Looking forward to many more.👍🏾🇬🇧

nice summary!

Based on the fighting, Ukrainians and Russians are NOT the same.

Glory and freedom to Ukraine. 🇬🇧🛡️🇺🇦

I think this is a reminder for us all to be more concise and clear when speaking in public 😂

Well put.

Great storytelling! Very well put together and narrated.

That winter was on fire.. Glory to the Heros.. Rest in peace Serhiy 🇺🇦🇺🇦

Thanks!

8:53 I don't know why that's funny, but the way he says it, is.

The real question is, why Russia is so obsessed to Putin?

I'm very happy to see that Ukrainians are fighting back and regaining lost territories and what a joy to see Ukrainians with relieve and excitement to greet their liberators. Slava Ukraine and may God bless the army ! 😊🙏

Excellent put together video 👏🏼👏🏼

Well done!

The real question in historical justification is determining when history should start. Usually it is when your people are on top. If one really looks at the History of the Ukraine, one learns that that the Ukraine was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which also included large chunks of Belorussia, while Russia was under the thumb of the Golden Horde. Ukraine later became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which at one time occupied Moscow. During this period the borders moved bak and forth depending upon the fortunes of the various neighbors - Russians, swedes, Cossacks, Ottoman Turks, Magyars, etc. Over the course of the late 18th Century Poland/Lithuania and the Ukraine were partitioned between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia. In the case of the Ukraine, it was split with Austria Hungary getting the western portion formerly known as Galacia/Ruthenia and Russia taking the Eastern portion. The Crimea was original a titular part of the Ottoman Empire and home to the Tartar remnants of the Golden Horde and routinely pillage by Cossacks from the Zaprorhizia region of the Ukraine. So, who truly owns the Ukraine? Poland? Lithuania? Turkey? The Tartars, The Cossacks? Or, in accordance with the Right to Self-Determination enshrined in the UN Charter, the Ukrainian people?

The Russians expected to be greeted with bread and salt. Well the salt they got. Rubbed in their wounds.

Everyone needs to see this.

Can't wait for scene 5...

I’m so proud of Ukrainians!!! Long live peace !!!

He's not obsessed with ukraine, he's obsessed with himself

They have history.. Real question is why the US is so interested in Ukraine 🤔

I believe you missed the 2016-2020 period.

My take from this video: Ukraine has a claim on Russia...

Interestingly, the term Ukraine appears for the first time in the Hypatian Chronicle in 1187. Russia did not exist. The term Russia appears 400 years later during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Ukraine is my ancestral homeland 💙💛 Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦💙💛

WoW, as a Ukrainian I’m very grateful for enlightening the real! history, the real reasons and problems in this awful war that russia has started. Thank you so much for such quality content

Insightful

Slavia Ukraine 🇺🇦.. The moment the lady told the invader ( here take these seeds so when you die at least a sunflower 🌻 will grow in your place) priceless. Slavia Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥️

A dictator, war criminal and corrupt politician walk into a bar. The bartender asks : What would you like to drink, Mr Putin.

Thank you for caring and supporting 💓💓💓

Why the States are so obsessed is the other question!

I love learning and that question of "Has Putin gone mad or is it a case that's he's acting rationally within his own warped parameters, his own fictitious reality?" really gets you thinking. I believe that we'll never know the truth of what he actually believes in his head, but one thing we do know is that either of those, makes him an incredibly volatile, dangerous man.

Guess Italy should invade most of Europe, North Africa, and east bank since its all Roman

Great piece!

What art is shown at 0:46?

Seriously, why? It’s not 1920 or 1820, or 920AD. People don’t just conquer stuff with convincing people anymore. We communicate too fast

“Our Armed forces are brothers in Arms” 😂 Except Ukraine is the brother who knows how to fight 😂

I was just wondering why the UK is so obsessed with Crimea? At this point it’s pathological. Russia and Ukraine I understand, the history and geography makes it a sensitive area but Crimea and UK???? It’s bonkers

Very informative article

You can’t just declare regions of another country “independent nations.” Like imagine if the US declared British Columbia an independent nation and then just invaded Canada.

Ukraine has tons of arable land, newly discovered gas reserves and direct access to the black sea, among other things. Though the gas reserves are the main problem since they allow Ukraine to compete with Russian gas providers.

nice video! thanks

He's not