Western criticisms of Russia's move into Ukraine's Crimea region reek of double standards. In the first place, Moscow was simply moving to regain control of a pro-Russian territory it had rather generously handed over to Ukraine back in 1954 when conditions were very different.
Its move is criticized as a breach of international law and a violation of Ukraine sovereignty. So the arbitrary 1954 Soviet move was in accord with international law and sovereignty? Besides, Western powers have often moved much less politely and with much less justification to take over territories belonging to others.
The contradictions over Ukraine are even greater. Much of what is Ukraine today would never have existed if not for the creation of the Soviet Union. The czars had decreed it was part of Russia and saw it as the cradle of Russian language and culture. It was the early Soviets who decided that minorities should be allowed to have their own republics and autonomous regions.