A more persuasive reason for Putin's actions is to be found in Russian revanchism after losing the Cold War and suffering the collapse of the Soviet Union. Putin's academic thesis for his doctorate as a KGB officer projected a recovery of Russian power based on renewed state control of the media and major industries, especially oil and gas. These would expand the Russian state's economic power in relation to NATO and Western Europe.
The next step would be to use the vast new flow of revenue to the Russian state to spend heavily to rebuild their military along modern lines. This was seen as key to facilitating the recovery of territory and influence lost to Russia due to the collapse of the USSR. The ultimate goal was to reassemble the USSR as a combination of subservient states and allies to the extent of the old Warsaw Pact, with Ukraine nominally independent but under de facto Russian control.
I recall first reading of this when Putin emerged as Yeltsin's KGB installed successor. My immediate reaction proved sadly correct: if that was Putin's plan, it would lead Russia into new conflict with the US and Western Europe. And that is exactly what has happened.
“My problem with that analysis is that Putin’s actions far exceed the claimed cause of trying to protect Russian speaking Ukrainians in Donbas. Seizing Crimea from Ukraine and later invading the entire country and trying to seize Kiev are an attack on Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign nation in violation of express Russian treaty guarantees.”
I completely agree with your comment & analysis.
Thank you.
Crimea also had a referendum for independence in 2014. Many ppl died at the hands of Poroshenko’s thugs when Kiev refused to honor the results and Ukrainian troops started shooting at citizens in the main square and then set a govt building on fire with ppl inside. Neither side is honorable in this war.