Ukraine is far poorer than Russia.

He would like to keep it that way.

True, but Ukraine was on a very great trajectory, just like the baltic states. They were all proof that you don’t need the Russian federation.

It's not just that he couldn't stand it, but rather what it does to his position inside Russia. If your business model is to rabbit on about how wonderful Russia is, and how sucky all other countries are, if there's a more successful more free country next door containing almost the same kind of people, then your words are hollow.

Not really..

USA will not have a hostile cuba, just as Russia won’t have a hostile Ukraine, and China won’t have a hostile Taiwan on its doorstep.

> USA will not have a hostile cuba

USA will, from all signs, not only continue to have a hostile Cuba, but also create a hostile Mexico.

And that's even before considering the internal hostility to the regime that the deliberately-engineered major economic collapse--that is already happening despite numerous policies that will deepen it still being in the pipeline and not yet in place--will create.

The US withdrawing from international engagement, trashing alliances, and trashing its own economy may enable competing powers more space to dominate their own regions, but it doesn't do anything to strengthen the US's regional position, it radically weakens it.

And a hostile Canada!

Not as much of a clear explicit threat to imminently engage in an armed invasion of Canada as the one to do so to Mexico, but, yes.

Ukraine was the poorest country in Europe, and by most metrics, worse off than Russia before the war.

Sure, you can write all sorts of alt-history fanfiction about how great it would be if 2014 didn't happen, but that's just one of many possible futures.

Leaving aside the war, Ukraine has many of the positive resources of the Baltics (just more so.) There is every reason to believe that an EU-aligned (or member) Ukraine would be an economic success story.