I wish this were fully true!
A good deal of Slavs also hate each other especially in the older generations.
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I have started to think that it's probably just Putin's way to play smokes-n-mirrors due the economic situation of Russia. Without the massive scale over spending to Sochi2014, Russia's economy would have been in recession already. Or it in-fact is but the Sochi2014 spending allowed to keep the problems of real economy hidden. Without Sochi2014 Russia's GDP growth would have something like -2% in 2013. There is nothing more dangerous for powers-that-be than recession and strong economic down turn. Russian ruble started to fall long before the situation of Crimea (or escalation at Ukraine) happened:
http://i58.tinypic.com/13zu1z7.png
This is clear indicator that Russian economy is sick and their current business-model (Euros for gas) is over. What better way to secure your seat than start to rattle the sabre and play the nationalist sentiments of Russians. Now powers-that-be can use the oldest trick in Machiavellian playbook aka "blaming the jew". They can say that all was well, but then the evil degenerate West started to sabotaging our economy! Look! It's not our fault, it's the West! That would rally the masses around Putin and ptb. This might all in-fact be Russian internal politics, projected to world stage.
It is this also but the big picture is still there, Putin is a true believer in the Empire, he is risking personal and family wealth for this.
He wants to leave a legacy in Eurasian Union IMO.
They seem to seek relief for the current economic downturn from Asia and China, they have within past months found the Pacific part of Russia very important, this happened like overnight almost.
Again, all fits with Dugins theories also, they are committed to this geopolitical battle for good.