Westerners are usually referring to the Russian leadership. There's a straight line of corruption from the Soviets to Putin.
Also, we're bad at geography, and "former soviet state" is easy / lazy.
Finally, I know lots of Ukrainians that grew up in Russia and vice versa, and can't really keep all the permutations straight. (As I can't for my colleagues from any continent.)
Also, we're bad at geography, and "former soviet state" is easy / lazy.
Finally, I know lots of Ukrainians that grew up in Russia and vice versa, and can't really keep all the permutations straight. (As I can't for my colleagues from any continent.)