Putin claimed he wanted to keep Ukraine out of NATO, yet his invasion has most likely INSURED Ukraine will one day be part of NATO.
Putin idealized and romaticized Russia’s imperial past, under the Czars and the Soviets. He chose the wrong ideals. He should have looked at post-WWII Japan, since she lost her empire, and if he had he would have found imperial ambitions were not needed for Russia to be prosperous and at peace.
And the best part of their NATO membership? Rather than Ukraine contributing 2% of their GDP for a mutual defense, American taxpayers will contribute their portion because...wait for it....they have no GDP!