#415 – Serhii Plokhy: History of Ukraine, Russia, Soviet Union, KGB, Nazis & War

1295.775 - 1322.508 Serhii Plokhy

Ukraine happened to be the second largest Soviet republic and then post-Soviet state. in terms of population, in terms of the economy, economic potential, and so on and so forth. And, as Yeltsin suggested, close culturally, linguistically, and otherwise to Russia. So, with the second largest republic gone, Russia didn't think that it was in Russia's interest to continue with the Soviet Union.