Russia and the Soviet Union has a long history of Russifying regions... beyond just the need, for example, to move industries during WWII to Kazakhstan. From 1700-1900s, Russians migrated to and colonized Central Asian republics, the Baltics, Ukraine of course, the upper Caucasus, and into middle/eastern regions. This put Russian-speaking population minorities in those countries. This is a simple way of looking at it of course. But yes, the Russian populations became opportunities for Russia to claim it was protecting the rights of those people..... One reason why the Baltic Republics have been nervous since independence. Another reason why Transdniestria is split from Moldova. Then you add in Russia support for separatists in Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and you see Russia actively threatening countries.

To some extent, yes,... it is amazing we have not had wars. We have had terrorism and insurgencies such as the Basques in Spain..and of course Catalonia sought potential indepedence. The collapse of Yugoslovia presented the first real war in Europe.... the thing is communism in both Yugoslavia and the USSR kept a lid on nationalist issues. But both countries always had "favored" groups, rivalries, and internal issues that were glossed over. Yugoslav states had long memories of previous atrocities. But the hodgepodge of populations in Bosnia made it a powderkeg. Interesting how people lived easily next to each other prior to the collapse of the states but all it took were some demagogues taking advantage of frustrations during the collapses to mobilize populations against perceived enemies. Nationalism and economic vulnerability are such good tools for demagogues to rally bases.

NATO and American leadership helped provide stability after WWII.. NATO later, but the Marshall Plan... France and Italy were very close to being governed by communist parties. The parties were popular due to their involvement in the resistance against Germany. But they could point to economic issues. Greece was on the verge of collapse due to a civil war. Turkey was going under.... Without U.S. unprecedented involvement in Europe, very good chance western Europe has more communist govenments