Was it? While it is often a talking point of the Kremlin that there is a civil war in Ukraine, there is a lot of truth to it.<p>The industry rich southern and eastern regions simply did not want free trade with the EU, because it would mean they would not be able to compete and it would restructure the economy of Ukraine significantly. On the other hand there were the students in the cities that wanted a closer association with the EU.<p>There is no ethnic component to it, there are nearly as many Russian and Ukrainian speakers on both sides and it is not between left and right, it is more Maidan vs Anti-Maidan or whatever the factions call themselves now. Aside from a minority of students, almost everyone is a Ukraine nationalist (beware, this too is used in progapanda talking point). Not in the negative way these terms are currently used in western nations though, they are fighting for their interests or their independence.<p>Both factions are very impoverished and are dependent on the respective super power to support them although the western side is a bit more independent. But basically they are the playground for an rekindled cold war. If you want to read up on it there is much to do. Media reports are heavily one sided in my opinion and just carelessly stoke conflicts without even hinting at the reasons for the conflict.<p>Overall I do think Russia is at fault, they feared expansion of the EU and NATO, but associating with the EU was an intrinsic wish of many Ukrainians and it has to be their choice. Not in the interest of everybody though and there is merit to their case for protectionism if you do not want external investors buying up the whole infrastructure.