These two republics you speak of. What states recognize them? Do they have a seat in the UN? Any jackass can declare a chunk of land an independent nation, but that don't necessarily make it so. For exampe, have you heard of ISIS? For a while that had more of the accoutrements of a state in place than the two "states" Marty recognizes in East Ukraine. 

Thank you for supplying the reason for the deportation of the Tartars. Some Ukrainians collaborated with the Nazis as well, expected freedom from the Russian yoke. 

Sadly and with many tears, you might be proven right about the eventual annexation under Trump. However, the sanctions Obama applied and coaxed his allies to support did convince Putin to a stand still for about two years. The savagery there has only reignited because Putin figures he can play Trump to not increase the sanction pain when he reignites his destabilization of Ukraine. Trudeau is pondering sending additional military advisers to Ukraine. Book not yet closed.