Agnia Grigas : Vladimir Putin has made effective use of his `` compatriot '' policy . Map : A divided Ukraine . It enables Russia to gain territory in areas where ethnic Russians and Russian speakers live . She says Crimea is a place where Russia can claim it was acting for `` compatriots '' Grigas : The annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow last year triggered international condemnation, but also support from many European countries who see this move as an attempt to destabilize Ukraine.
Agnia Grigas : Vladimir Putin has made effective use of his `` compatriot '' policy . It enables Russia to gain territory in areas where ethnic Russians and Russian speakers live . She says Crimea is a place where Russia can claim it was acting for `` compatriots '' Grigas : The annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow last year triggered international condemnation, but also support from many European countries who see this move as an attempt to destabilize Ukraine.