Crimea is a region in Ukraine that hosts the Russian fleet and has a large Russian speaking and Russian leaning population. It also is a large economic engine for Ukraine as a whole. Ukraine replaced a Russian leaning prime minister and there is a serious secession movement and possible civil war. Russia today approved sending troops into Crimea and Pres Obama said there will be "costs" if Russia did.
Another background is that Ukraine agreed to give up their nuclear defense only when the US and Europe agreed to ensure their sovereignty.
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