EXPLAINER: WHY IS RUSSIA'S PUTIN SO FOCUSED ON UKRAINE?
Photo Credit: REUTERS
(Reuters) - Ukraine has become the main flashpoint in Russia's relations with the West after a build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops near its border and a series of tough statements from President Vladimir Putin setting out his "red lines".
Here are three sets of reasons why Putin feels so strongly about Ukraine and has chosen to bring the crisis to a head.
HISTORY
With the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia lost control of 14 former republics it had previously dominated, but the loss of Ukraine was the bitterest pill.
The two had been linked since the 9th century when Kyiv became the capital of the ancient Russian state of Rus; in 988 its ruler, Grand Prince Vladimir, introduced Orthodox Christianity to Russia. From 1654 Russia and Ukraine were united by treaty under the rule of the Russian tsar.
