> they would have made a deal with Ukraine (decades ago) that protected the rights of the Russian minorities in Ukraine and continued massively profiting from gas and oil exports into Europe.

Russia did, many times, last time in 2010.[0]

But the US and the EU didn't like it, so the coup in 2014 happened with American help[1] which overthrew democratically elected president of Ukraine who introduced the law protecting Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens.[2]

The law was repelled right after the coup and Crimeans supported the reunion with Russia.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_gas_dis...

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_policy_in_Ukraine#201...