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I would argue that Russia very much has expansionist goals. I used to vacation in the Crimea as a kid with my family. Suddenly it wasn’t a part of Ukraine anymo

• DaiPlusPlus 6y ago
  Right - but I understand capturing Crimea was about securing access to the Black Sea before Ukraine eventually joins the EU or NATO. I feel it was a long-term strategic goal rather then an ideological or nationalistic goal. When I think of the SU’s expansionist goals I think of Seven Days to the Rhine rather than territorial gains of convenience - so I apologise for being vague in my original comment. I know the same argument applies to the PRC: their occupation of the South China Sea is opportunistic and strategic and so is more comparable to Crimea - it’s not like China is invading Vietnam or South Korea with intent to annex them.
• blaser-waffle 6y ago
  > seems to want to put the USSR back together and I can’t see that stopping anytime soon The USSR is dead and gone and no one in power in Russia wants it back, save for pensioners who had a better deal back then. Putin wants the Russian Empire back, which held Poland, the Ukraine, most of the Baltics, etc. Why be a Premier when you can be a Tzar?