There is more than one side to the Ukraine Russia story.
In early 2014 the US and EU backed the Madan coup, forcing out the elected Ukraine president. The US, EU, and IMF sent billions to Ukraine, most of which ended up in DC, Brussels, Paris, London.
Years ago, The Ukraine govt decided to screw over ethnic Russians in the East. I recall they forbid teaching Russian in schools, maybe cancelled some pensions. This lead to armed conflict between the Kiev govt and the Eastern Ukraine.
France, Germany, and Russia held meetings (excluding the US) with the East and Kiev. They hammered out the Minsk accords in late 2014. This required Kiev to meet directly with the East and to keep a set distance from the contact line.
The people of Crimea voted to rejoin Russia. Over 90%. This was OK for Kosovo BTW. NATO bombed to enforce that. Russia already had a huge naval base and lots of troops.
Ukraine used to export lots of ag products and heavy industry to Russia. The sanctions ended that. I think Greece, Baltics, and other countries also ended exports and got screwed. Ukraine was the major source of aviation in the USSR. Planes, helicopters, gas turbines, etc. That ended. The workers are screwed. China is buying some gas turbines for military use but will stop that once they steal the IP. They are already making them inside China.
The EU will not buy Ukraine ag products. Russia is now self sufficient in all these products and even exports food. The later is a shocker to me, remembering the old days.
The US forced Russia into bed with China. So anything they do not make they can get from China. Russia wanted to be part of EU and even NATO.
Recently, for internal political reasons, Kiev violated the Minsk accords and moved heavy forces to the contact line. Kiev refuses to meet with the East, as required by the Minsk accords. Russia moved their forces to their border.
Kiev pulled forces mostly back. Russian kept theirs in place. The Kiev forces are in crappy trenches. The Russian forces have warm beds and hot showers.
The major take away is that Ukraine is screwed thanks to the anti Russian sanctions. Much of Ukraine has left the country.
