Why does Russia hate Ukraine so much?

They don't, they need Crimea as its their only major port that's ice free 24/7 and from the border of Poland east to Moscow is flat land.

Russia would prefer to have it locked down to prevent NATO (or others) from punching through and steam rolling their way to Moscow with relative ease

Russia hates Ukraine because it was politically expedient for the Russian propaganda machine to stoke that hatred. Without it they would have never been willing to endure sanctions all for the sake of a warm water port

I´d say it´s the other way around seeing how pro-Maidan propaganda tried to show russians as subhumans

Without Ukraine, there is no Russia. They are like a split marriage, angry after divorce.

This.

It's a Malvinas type diversion

1. Crimea is essential to Russian power projection in the Black Sea, whoever controls Sevastopol essentially can control the Black Sea.

2. If Ukraine were ever to join NATO, it would be an open march to Russia's core in the Moscow region, keeping NATO as far away from Russia's homeland has been a foreign policy staple since the inception of the organization.

3.The coal and industry of the Donbass, the grain fields of central Ukraine, and the ports of Odessa and Sevastopol are tantamount to Russia's power and positioning in Europe. Losing these to NATO would compromise Russia's position on the world stage and its own security.

It's not out of a hatred of the people, the land is so important to Russia's position in the world that they simply cannot afford to lose it.

which also makes me wonder why NATO and the EU are so fucking hesitant to push forward with taking the country as their own to cripple the Russians. It would seem to be a no-brainer for the US to force Ukraine to become a NATO member the literal day Poroshenko assumed office.

It is a new phenomena. Before Russia lost it's influence in the country, Russians and Ukrainians considered each other as brotherly people.

With recent events the Russian state had to change the opinion of the public. The subsequent success of this re-polarization just shows you how effective the Russian intelligence apparatus is.

If you haven't noticed, European politics have been dominated by Doves and fifth column populilsts who act in the interest of the Russian state. Any moves that would strengthen NATO's position are said to be in an inevitable catalyst to WW3, no matter how ludicrous that idea is.

Right now hawks have a hard time finding any political support in any corner of the spectrum.

>which also makes me wonder why NATO and the EU are so fucking hesitant to push forward with taking the country as their own to cripple the Russians.

Likely out of concern that such a bold attempt to cripple the Russians would be seen for what it is, and shit would escalate.

Russia isn't what it used to be. It is a second world power nowadays. They couldn't keep up in escalation.

Yes, but that still assumes that NATO countries (and as importantly their public) wanted that sort of escalation, whether they were confident they'd ultimately win or not.

MAD is still a thing

MAD got phased out in favor of NUTS in the late 50s early 60s.

I'm not even joking.

Ukraine is Russia's Ireland

"limited nuclear exchange" exists only in the minds of theoreticians

Only a thing if Russia's de jure territory would be invaded. In other words; MAD isnt relevant...

I fucking lol'd

This.

No such thing.

Russians have a superiority complex when it comes to Ukrainians even though they are 99 percent similar just slight differences on accent and dialects

you said good,sir!