china...ily

Even if Russia keep Donbas and whatever else in eastern Ukraine, they'll NEVER be able to afford rebuilding and running it. It'd be civil war within 10 years as the people see west Ukraine en-route to be Poland 2.0.

Their ONLY way out is to let China come in and build '''21st century cities''' all connected by insane transportation. This will involve the mass importation of Asians (nothing new to Russia).

With Crimea and East Ukraine, China have a perfect staging ground for European trade, and can pivot European power westards under a red flag. Turkey building a 2nd Bosphorus will improve traffic here, too.