“started in the first place.”
The invasion was started by Putin to re-establish Russian Empire.
Check out: “The Foundations of Geopolitics: The Geopolitical Future of Russia” supports the ideal of Raschism or Russian-fascism.
Raschism uses this political ideology and social practices of the Russian authorities during the rule of Putin and his ideology of Russian military expansionism.
“The Foundations of Geopolitics” develops strategies to bring about a new Eurasian Empire led by ethnic Russians and used as a textbook in the Academy of the General Staff of the Russian military.
The invasion was launched to blunt the advance of the American Empire.
The kind of empire George Washington would cringe at.