[FormerFRLurker]

I think it's fairly obvious. Putin's invasion isn't really about NATO since Ukraine does not meet NATO requirements for admission. Nor is it about the long-standing tension with Western Europe since the EU is very dependent on Russian oil. Simply cutting them off would do far more damage to the EU than invading Ukraine. So what motive then is left for invading Ukraine, aside from grabbing Ukrainian resources and a longing for a return to the USSR's former glory? It's not even clear that the economic gains from taking Ukrainian land are greater than the cost of a sustained occupation.

If you're interested, here are some links:
Putin’s war aims to undo the traumas of the 1990s for Russians
What Putin Wants

[BobL]

“I think it’s fairly obvious. Putin’s invasion isn’t really about NATO since Ukraine does not meet NATO requirements for admission.”

Then NATO should have been EXPLICIT in saying they will never join. The problem was that NATO was already playing footsie with Ukraine, so anyone watching shouldn’t be surprised that Putin saw the same.

[lodi90]

You are correct. Putin is a cold war fossil and still holding a grudge. That wouldn’t really be a big deal except it has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands due to his mania.