No doubt Putin loves to highlight any hypocrisies found anywhere in the western countries.
But, I don't think you need any complicated theory to explain any of his actions re: Ukraine. He's wanted that country back ever since it broke off from the USSR. He never considered its moves toward democracy legitimate. He grabbed part of it in 2014. His actions have been very consistent on that front -- make plays to control Ukraine and weaken NATO. Finally he's dispensed with the subtlety of cyberattacks and political messaging and just went full in with ground forces.
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No doubt Putin loves to highlight any hypocrisies found anywhere in the western countries.
But, I don't think you need any complicated theory to explain any of his actions re: Ukraine. He's wanted that country back ever since it broke off from the USSR. He never considered its moves toward democracy legitimate. He grabbed part of it in 2014. His actions have been very consistent on that front -- make plays to control Ukraine and weaken NATO. Finally he's dispensed with the subtlety of cyberattacks and political messaging and just went full in with ground forces.