[selivanovp]

>He has even stated publicly it has nothing to do with NATO.

That's not true. It has always been about NATO absorbing Ukraine that is unacceptable to Russia. Putin warned about it since his Munich speech in 2007, that Georgia and Ukraine has to stay a military neutral countries or it'll result in a war with Russia. USA just decided that they may ignore it and do whatever they want anyway, pushing NATO in, after organizing "revolutions".

[ch4s3]

His stated aim has always been Russian imperial resurgence, that's what all of his long tedious speeches are about. It's not like NATO is out soliciting the membership of former Soviet satellites, these places are begging to join because they have to live beside a revanchist Russia.