During the Soviet era, millions of Russians were deliberately resettled in the other republics (the Baltics, Kazakhstan and Ukraine in particular) to reduce the political strength of the local populations and the threat their nationalist inclinations presented.
Perhaps Obama is thinking of a similar plan.
Putin has probably suggested it to him during their private chats.
Yep.
To me, it sounded like he was joking......but not really. And a forced move would be exactly how his tiny little mind thinks.