Ukraine’s decision to suddenly call off talks with Europe over deep political and economic links in favor of renewing ties Russia has roiled thousands with unpleasant memories of Moscow’s influence in their country.

More than 100,000 people protested against the government in Kiev, ten times the size of a pro-government rally in the capital.  The larger crowd made up the largest since the 2004 Orange Revolution, which overturned a rigged presidential poll.  Police fired tear gas as it approached a cordon around government buildings.

While the people look to the west, the government is buckling to pressure from Moscow to join a customs union with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.  The government says the decision to reject the EU was purely economic.  In 2009 Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in a dispute about prices, causing fuel shortages across Europe in the middle of winter.

The timing of the government’s decision might have contributed to the size of the opposition – This past weekend was the 80th anniversary of the Holomodor, the devastating Soviet-era famine that killed millions of Ukrainians.  Many Ukrainians believe Moscow deliberately caused the Holomodor to stamp our Ukrainian nationalism.

But back in the modern era, economic concerns prevail.  A poll in October found that 45 percent of Ukrainians favor stronger ties with the EU, 14 percent favored an economic alliance with Russia.  The rest were undecided or favored no alliances.