Same goes for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, who were part of Russian Empire and only created in USSR - initially as autonomous republics of Russian SSR, so what happens, if Russia wants their gift back and claim Central Asia, as it was part of Russia in early days of Soviet Union?

However, we can also look on that from other side as neither Crimea or Ukraine initially were part of USSR and did not join USSR, but were conquered by USSR, so legitimately they were independent countries, recognized internationally and who were incorporated into USSR with force. Btw, Crimea, along with Kuban and Ukraine were in talks of creation of one country.

So, whatever Soviets gifted to whom does not really matter, as Russia, just like Ukraine are NEW countries - not continuations of Russian Empire, just like USSR was not continuation of Russian Empire and what matters more, is that current Russia had taken obligations in guaranteeing integrity of Ukraine, which she has broken.

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So, it is not really about Russians in Crimea, but Russian military Naval base and breaking of agreements, that Russia signed with countries like US. No one, absolutely no one in this world cares for Crimean Russians(and not to mention - Tatars) if they want to be part of Ukraine or Russia - the only thing that matters is world order, that is based on agreements and if they are worth nothing, then ahem, Russia has opened Pandoras box, where US can remember to claim Wrangler island, as district of Alaska or Chukchi peninsula, because Siberian Yupiks might want to be together with other Innuit people(and receive more for rare resource extraction) and same goes for any other country, that might have historical claims on lands in Russia.