In their speeches, interviews and lengthy articles, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his close associates this year have shown special, simply obsessive attention to this former Soviet republic.

The Kremlin’s thesis is that Ukrainians are “one nation,” living alongside the Russians in a crumbling state controlled by Western forces and determined to divide and conquer the post-Soviet world.

Ukrainians who ousted a pro-Russian president in 2014 and advocated linking their country to Western institutions would certainly disagree with that view.

On the other hand, Putin’s faith is receiving attention and support among many Russians who consider themselves to be closely linked to Ukraine’s linguistic, cultural, economic, political and family ties.