gdy
Would you recommend something to read about that?
"Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who participated in the 1990 negotiations, subsequently spoke out about the existence of a "guarantee of non-expansion of NATO to the east" inconsistently, confirming its existence in some interviews and refuting in others." [0]
Here is what Gorbachev was saying in 2008.
"Relations have further deteriorated after Nato promised eventual membership to Georgia and Ukraine, a move interpreted by Mr Gorbachev as an attempt to extend America's sphere of influence into Russia's backyard.
"The Americans promised that Nato wouldn't move beyond the boundaries of Germany after the Cold War but now half of central and eastern Europe are members, so what happened to their promises? It shows they cannot be trusted."" [1]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversy_in_Russia_regardin...
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/193...
Crimean Tatars were deported by Stalin, many died in the process, and in the late 80s they and their descendants returned back to Crimea. It was a case of collective punishment for collaboration with Nazis of some of Crimean Tatars and has been many times officially condemned both in the USSR and Russia just like other acts of collective punishment by Stalin. All of it is well known.
Now how does this make Crimea Ukrainian?
But I did mention. [0]
"how obscenely ridiculous it is"
No more obscenely ridiculous than saying that the US exists for 200 years. Ever heard of Native Americans who inhabited the North America?
Crimea was conquered by Russia, not by the Ukraine which didn't even exists as a state at that time, and Russia was busy building cities there and in all of Novorossiya.
"not so peaceful"
Why would it be peaceful? Crimean Khanate was raiding Russia and capturing slaves for centuries. Didn't end well for them.
"Except"
I didn't say it's equivalent, just an example of a treaty outliving its utility for one of the parties.
Soviet leadership acted in the interests of the Soviet Union (and their own), not in the interests of RSFSR.
"we can also say that Nazi Germany had nothing to do with Germans either"
No, you can't. Nazi Germany proclaimed the superiority of Germans (and of so called 'Arian race') and tried to achieve ethnic purity. Soviet Union was a multiethnic state, ethnic Russians constituted about half of Soviet population and the idea of the 'friendship of ethnicities' was heavily promoted.
"I have no colonial past."
But your country does.
"Then it was suddenly discovered"
Again, that's not how it was. Some people in Russia remembered it pretty well, like Moscow major Luzhkov who was helping Sevastopol with money, but all the presidents and governments consistently refused to support this idea.
"It's once again one of those things that was suddenly "discovered" to justify the invasion"
"Declassified documents show security assurances against NATO expansion to Soviet leaders from Baker, Bush, Genscher, Kohl, Gates, Mitterrand, Thatcher, Hurd, Major, and Woerner" [0]
"but never brought up"
What's the point to complain and to be told to know your place? Anyway, ever heard of Putin's Munich speech in 2006?
"skewing the balance of military power in Europe heavily in favor of Russia"
Doesn't look like it.
[0] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017...
[0] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017...
By fighting the Ottoman Empire and their protectorate -- the remains of the Golden Horde known as Crimean Khanate [0]. The last was busy raiding Russia and selling captured slaves to Ottomans [1]. The Golden Horde, in case you don't know, is itself one the remains of the Mongol Empire.
"What happened to its original inhabitants?"
Scythians [2] and Tauri [3] were assimilated by Sarmatians and later were partly destroyed and party assimilated by Goths. Why did you ask?
"Which treaty"
It looks like you are asking in bad faith and already know the answer. When circumstances change treaties become obsolete. Ever heard of Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, for example? [4]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annexation_of_the_Crimean_Khan...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean%E2%80%93Nogai_slave_ra...
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythia_Minor_(Crimea)
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauri
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Ballistic_Missile_Treaty
"people like you"
What's that supposed to mean?
Not driving on Crimean bridge after the attack last year is as meaningful as leaving NY skyscrapers after 9/11.
Yes, it does. You are confusing 'Russian' and 'Soviet'.
"Soviet colonial policies"
That was funny. You are confusing with your colonial past.
"If you want to start settling old scores"
It's not about that. Russia was fine with the Crimea belonging to the Ukraine while it didn't matter much for Russia and for Crimeans themselves. That was until the nationalists took power in 2014 with the help of American 'midwifing' (quoting Obama here).
"you can demonstrate good faith"
USSR demonstrated good faith when it greenlighted reunification of Germany and got assurances that NATO won't expand to the east. Look how that worked out.
It's like somebody saying 'It's funny that girls still walk in mini-skirts in the park' under the news that a girl was raped. And then you appear: 'Nowhere did *** say it was funny that the girl was raped'.
Anyway, you surely will find all sorts of people among 146 millions of Russians including serial killers and the likes. How does it justify being a person who is laughing over the death of civilian couple and orphaned and injured girl?
"the terrorist occupiers in Crimea"
That's quite a frivolous use of the word 'terrorist' devoiding it of any meaning besides 'bad!!!!!!!!1'.
Yes, Crimea was stolen in 1954, but in 2014 it reunited with Russia.
By the same logic, when Crimea was a part of the Ukraine that whole time it was Ukrainian by the name only. [0]
"a magical event happened which would finally give the peninsula a majority Russian population"
There's nothing magical in Stalin's crimes which were condemned in the USSR and later in Russia many times.
"The moment the mafia-like entities ... they naturally lost any right to the benefits of the North Crimean Canal"
So you are justifying cutting water and electricity to the whole civilian population of Crimea by Russian support for pro-Russia separatists elsewhere? That's exactly what I was talking about when said that the Ukraine lost any moral right to govern Crimea.
Because it was Russian for almost 200 years before Khruschev stole it from Russia and 'gifted' to the Ukraine.
Because according to the Western polls after the reunification with Russia overwhelming majority of Crimeans approve of it.
And last but not least, the Ukraine lost any moral right to govern Crimea after cutting water and electricity supply to the citizens of the peninsula.
Now try saying this about Israel.