Putin is one of the last great leaders ofthe modern era.

After all, he took over a broken country and made it asuperpower in 20 years.

His response to an Austrian journalists assertionthat western Ukraine once belonged to the Austro-HungarianEmpire, and even in German, will beforever etched in the memory of all.

As far as the Austrian historicalrightto WesternUkraine is concerned, it is worth noting that this isthe mainreason for the separation of the easternRussian-speaking part from the western, German-speaking part.

TheGermans of the Black Sealived (and still live) in the area.