> Furthermore, Russian policymakers—including Mr Putin—have said hardly anything about conquering new territory to recreate the Soviet Union or build a greater

> Furthermore, Russian policymakers—including Mr Putin—have said hardly anything about conquering new territory to recreate the Soviet Union or build a greater Russia. Putin has now said exactly that. He sees himself as reclaiming Russian territory: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61767191 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61767191 > Rather, since the 2008 Bucharest summit Russian leaders have repeatedly said that they view Ukraine joining NATO as an existential threat that must be prevented. NATO is a defensive alliance. Russia's actions are only causing the growth of NATO with Finland and Sweden now moving to join: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18023383 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18023383 If Russia genuinely believed NATO to be an existential threat then Russia wouldn't act in a manner that encourages the expansion of NATO membership. In the end, Putin is responsible for the Ukrainian crisis and the Russian people are responsible for Putin and the Russian government. The cost of the Russian people's inability to get their government under control is now being measured in both Ukrainian and Russian lives.