Is There a Difference Between Orientalism and Assimilation?

Orientalism is trying to show the other as very different, very exotic and therefore kind of marginal. While russians arwat trying to say that in many aspects they are basically the same as russian culture. It's like a message that you can renounce your identity because you're ucranias? Well, you're close to us. You speak ah the same languae so wells as they think that you should better renounce your language, your music, your culture. Speak our language and you will be ours.