Putin’s aggression much an attack on the U.S. global order as on Ukraine. He has been excoriating U.S policy for a while growing tired of Russian hate and is adamant the U.S. has repeatedly trampled over his red lines with “colored revolutions,”
Putin has no doubt been conceptualizing his counteroffensive for years. Perhaps he waited for President Trump to leave the White House. Or he needed to ensure his military and technology were up to the challenge.
Add in cementing his relationship with chairman Xi and China. Is it possible he’s been waiting patiently for years for this moment? Especially at this critical juncture, his calculation might be that the West has so much more to lose than Russia with Germany and it’s energy reliance