I think I see why Russia wants Eastern Ukraine:

[icymist]

It's all about the oil and gas fields.

[elleng]

1. Of course;

isn't 'everything' about oil?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Rachel covers that in her book.

On my list for future reading.

[KT2000]

4. don't you think

Putin has cut rump in on the spoils? This probably also include the like of Lindsey Graham. McTurtle, etc.

[lastlib]

5. Rosneft stock deal, December 2016......

Billions of $$ of stock sold to Cayman Islands shell companies. If you can't smell a few dozen rats in that, you're not trying....

[C Moon]

6. And remember earlier in the year when these traitors were waiting in line to go over & visit Putin?

[Captain Zero]

8. on July the 4th even.

That's right.

[Captain Zero]

7. And Crimea

That's why they've already taken it. See the cute little oil/gas rigs ??

[Lock him up.]

9. It's the climate-destroying oil field$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

What else is new.

[fleur-de-lisa]

10. I read that it's also about access to warm water ports.

They need to be able to ship the oil out year round.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. IIRC, Crimea has been described as a

"breadbasket". It's agriculture and food production capacity would interest Russia, too.

[Wounded Bear]

17. Not so much Crimea, but Ukraine has been producing wheat and other foodstuffs since ancient times...

Rome depended heavily on Ukrainian wheat, though they called it Scytihia back then.

[Falcata]

12. I think Putin

wants all the countries back under the Russian flag like they were in the days of the USSR and Peter and Catherine the Great.

[Blue_Tires]

13. It's really about the strategic naval port...

the oil is secondary

[TheBlackAdder]

14. Russia wants Poland, and even in NATO won't risk a global conflict over losing Poland.

.

I took a US Intelligence course in college, and the Polish professor, who is the head of the PoliSci Dept. said it's a loss NATO will take to prevent a global or European war.

.

[MineralMan]

15. That's part of it, but it's also Russia's path to the

Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean. It's open year round, and gives the Russian navy access to the Middle East and Europe. In that sense it's a vital ocean highway that would cause great harm if Russia lost access. The Black Sea is crucial to the Russian Bear.

[pecosbob]

16. Magnitsky sanctions are preventing a southern gas pipeline to Europe from proceeding

All of the above mentioned aspects of control of the Donbas are valid...naval access, etc., but the bottom line is energy.