Ukraine signed a long term lease through 2042 with Russia which allows Russia access to and use of the port facilities in Sevastapol necessary to maintain their Black Sea Fleet. Unlike the rest of the Ukraine, Sevastapol and Crimea in general have a large ethnic Russian population. Russia clearly has a demonstrable vested interest.
After 5 pages of right wing stupidity Mainman finally hits the nail on the head.
Spoiler alert! The following is history( or at least Wiki history which is closer to the real thing than Faux 'news history), right wingers should read with caution, your head might explode.
On July 21, 1774, the Ottoman Empire had to sign perforce the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca. The treaty did not overtly take away vast territories from the Ottomans - Poland had already paid the price of alienated territory. According to the treaty:
the Crimean Khanate formally gained its independence (but in reality became dependent on Russia)
Russia received war reparations of 4.5 million rubles
Turkey ceded to Russia two key seaports, Azov and Kerch, allowing the Russian Navy and merchant fleet direct access to the
Black Sea...
Sevastopol was founded in June 1783 as a base for a naval squadron under the name Akhtiar[9] (White Cliff),[10] by Rear Admiral Thomas Mackenzie (Foma Fomich Makenzi), a native Scot
in Russian service; soon after Russia annexed the Crimean Khanate. Five years earlier, Alexander Suvorov ordered that earthworks be erected along the harbour and Russian troops be placed there. In February 1784, Catherine the Great ordered Grigory Potemkin to build a fortress there and call it Sevastopol. The realisation of the initial building plans fell to Captain Fyodor Ushakov who in 1788 was named commander of the port and of the Black Sea squadron.[11] It became an important naval base and later a commercial seaport. In 1797, under an edict issued by Emperor Paul I, the military stronghold was again renamed to Akhtiar. Finally, on April 29 (May 10), 1826, the Senate returned the city's name to Sevastopol.
Three 17th Century Church Bells in Arundel Castle United Kingdom. These were taken from Sevastopol as trophies at the end of the Crimean War
One of the most notable events involving the city is the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55) carried out by the British, French, Sardinian, and Turkish troops during the Crimean War, which lasted for 11 months. Despite its efforts, the Russian army had to leave its stronghold and evacuate over a pontoon bridge to the north shore of the inlet. The Russians had to sink their entire fleet to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy and at the same time to block the entrance of the Western ships into the inlet...
During World War II, Sevastopol withstood intensive bombardment by the Germans in 1941–42, during the Axis siege which lasted for 250 days before the city fell in July 1942. It was intended to be renamed to "Theodorichshafen" in the event of a German victory against the Soviet Union, and like the rest of the Crimea was designated for future colonization by the Third Reich. It was liberated by the Red Army on May 9, 1944 and was awarded with the Hero City title a year later.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevastopol...
The Russians are NOT going to give up their Black Sea ports that they've been fighting for for hundreds of years. Expecting them to give up their ports is as idiotic as the right wingers posts here.
