I already answered you. You are to the point you are just throwing out situations, while I am talking geo-politics
have a nice day
Ukraine is unique in that it's on Russia border and at least good chunks of the east are Russian speaking and have close economic and cultural ties to Russia - not just "Slavic"Putin has wanted to reconstitute the East Slavic nations into something approaching a 21st century Tsarist empire for the last 30 years. He has openly said Ukraine is not a legitimate country, and he has openly said the greatest tragedy of the late 20th century were all the ethnic Russians trapped outside the borders of Mother Russia when the USSR dissolved.
NATO had nothing to do with that messianic vision he has clung to.
Ukraine is unique in that it's on Russia border and at least good chunks of the east are Russian speaking and have close economic and cultural ties to Russia - not just "Slavic"
These are specific close ties, and the war in Donbas with Russian separatists is unique- but indicative of that
Pre-invasion the country had dual alliances, and the national elections swinging back and forth from "colors" to pro-Russian candidates parties.
So Putin can dream all he wants - it was never going to happen. as I've tried to go over though Ukraine is unique and to simply say "Uk should be reconstituted" as Putins driving motive looks for lofty nationalism expansion while ignoring the basic simple geopolitics on the ground
it''s all pushback on NATO expansion surely you get "spheres of influence?"Putin's messianic vision of a new Tsarist empire is not a pipe dream he merely fantasizes about.
Belorussia has already been turned into a Vassal state. Ukraine was always next on the agenda because it wouldn't be as easy as Belarus.
I think Kazakhstan is on the verge of being a Vassal state of Moscow.
So the empire building has been going on right under your nose, and it has nothing to do with petty grievances against NATO
it''s all pushback on NATO expansion surely you get "spheres of influence?"
My point though Ukraine is so essential (Crimea)/neutral UK- to Russia it went to war over it
to gain a buffer state
I back this up as well with Russia so many times asking for it's red line negotiations -all about Uk
not Belarussia
we wouldn't negotiate, we kept up the pro-west rhetoric, we sent out best advanced arms
we did everything in our power to worsen the situation
we wouldnt even make a simple promise not to expand NATO into Uk - which even Zelensky gets
you cage an animal and shove it into a corner...then wonder why it lashes out?