Why Putin's article "About the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians" is not a nostalgic love letter but a threatening note. Some direct quotes translated into English:
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that [Ukraine’s] course towards violent assimilation, the formation of an ethnically pure Ukrainian state, aggressive towards Russia, is comparable in its consequences to the use of weapons of mass destruction against us."
"All the tricks associated with the anti-Russia project are clear. And we will never allow our historical territories and our close people living there to be used against Russia. And to those who attempt to do so, I want to say that in this way they will destroy their country."
Putin also writes: "I am convinced that Ukraine's true sovereignty is possible only in partnership with Russia."
Putin also writes: "I am convinced that Ukraine's true sovereignty is possible only in partnership with Russia."
In sum, we have Putin equating current Ukrainian policies to a WMD attack on Russia, threatening retaliation, and reminding us that Ukraine's sovereignty is conditional. If it is not a threatening note bingo, I don't know what is.
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