As usual, America's foreign correspondents are falling down on the job. Stories devoid of historical context cast Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a naked act of neo-Soviet aggression. Considering that the relevant history begins a mere two decades ago, its omission is inexcusable.
The spark that led to the takeover of Crimea was not the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. It is what happened the day after. A 2012 law gave the Russian language official status in regions where Russians comprise more than 10 percent of the population. This is the case in most of eastern Ukraine and particularly in Crimea, where 59 percent are ethnic Russians.
One week ago, Ukraine's rump parliament (members of Yanukovych's party, hiding from opposition forces and in fear for their lives, didn't show up) took advantage of Yanukovych's downfall to overturn the language law. Americans didn't notice, but Russians did.