Ever since his aggressive annexation of Crimea began in March 2014, Russian president Vladimir Putin has tried to defend his actions as simple unification. "People who have their own views on history and the history of our country may argue with me, but it seems to me that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are practically one people," he said in August 2014.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
Business Insider: Putin keeps saying Ukrainians and Russians are the same – here’s the main reason why they’re not
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2015) in St. Petersburg on June 19.
