[CRConrad]

> They did, in 2014 their democratically elected president chose to stop/delay EU talks because it would cost the country much more at the time (Russia was giving them 1/3 price for the gas and much more money than EU wanted to give). Then Maidan happened and the rest is history.

Sounds like he severely misread the room, turned dictator in the people's eyes for wanting to sell out their freedom for thirty pieces of silver, and was deposed in a revolution. You know, like sometimes happens (and sometimes not) when democratically elected leaders turn dictator.

> If you had a bully in a classroom, you would not go around provoke him, you would try to live with him even though you don't like him.

Maybe you wouldn't. But that never works in the long run; sooner or later someone has to give the bully his comeuppance. Better sooner than later.