Unfortunately, they were largely people who lacked the wit to notice that openly bragging about how they were about to become the European Unions vassals was not independance, and that there is a seismic difference between independence and merely changing masters.
Funny how they weren’t smart enough to figure it out, but you did right away. /s
Nonsense. These poor nations, mostly former commie ones, don’t want to be dominated by Putin’s crony capitalism. His own people don’t want it either. He’s running the country with a small oligarchy benefiting from his decisions. These poor countries want in the EU to get aid and development. I live in Europe and I see the advantage. It’s like having a rich uncle to help you out. Their not being mastered by the rest of Europe; that’s like calling the Marshall Plan a takeover of Europe.