Yeh, sure. You are working pretty hard to come up with an excuse for Putin. Maybe the Russians started it all through their adventurism and occupation of Afghanistan. Guess what. Putin has wanted Ukraine and all the other former soviet republics - and more- ever since the breakup and has always been upfront about that. I don't think the Blame America First policy helps him much here.
It underestimated NATO, and its military is a joke. Remember that 60 miles of tanks, where did they go?
Apparently you have trouble getting news and information out there on the mothership circling the Hale-Bopp Comet. Putin has been grinding away on that theme for decades- non-stop. Take your head out of Putin's arse and get a clue. Putin, before vote, says he'd reverse Soviet collapse if he could: agencies Fielding quick-fire questions from supporters in Russia’s European exclave of Kaliningrad, Putin was asked what Russian historical event he would like to change. “The collapse of the Soviet Union,” Putin immediately shot back. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...t-collapse-if-he-could-agencies-idUSKCN1GE2TF
You can stop with the insults. I know it feels good, but it weakens your arguments. Nothing there about wanting to take over Ukraine at all. This quote could be interpreted MANY different ways. There is no context. ---Putin was asked what Russian historical event he would like to change. “The collapse of the Soviet Union,” Putin immediately shot back. Putin, who served in the KGB in the Soviet era, called the 1991 Soviet fall the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe” of the twentieth century--- I would be VERY hesitant to interpret this quote as "I want to take over Ukraine." I think he's saying the WAY the collapse occurred caused huge suffering for the Russian people and could have been handled MUCH better. That would have 'changed' the historical event. But you're pretty stuck on the Putin evil narrative, so... keep it up!
I gave you one quote that popped up in ten seconds of googling covering the "put the soviet union back together" issue. Now you want something on Putin confirming his belief that Ukraine has always been part of Russia, let alone the need to put it back together. If you think that that needs confirmation then google is your friend. Not sure what planet you have been on. Putin emphasizes that every chance he gets - including when he announced the "special genocide operation." Sorry Cowboy but I am not running a remedial course for vatniks so don't troll me on this. It is a waste of time. Vatniks watched Putin take Crimea and still are clueless that he wanted to take all of Ukraine next. Oh, I see. Nato. Bullshit. Just vatnik brain damage.
I think my assertions that Vlad wants/wanted to put the soviet union back together and wants/wanted to take Ukraine are on pretty safe ground. The evidence is rather in my favor. You go right ahead and argue that Putin never had any such thoughts and look like a vatnik robot. Take your head out of Putin's arse. You and the other vatniks are trying to find arguments to support a genocidal campaign that has reduced Ukraine to rubble, and is also sending your beloved Russia down the toilet unless you like being a colony of China. Your side should be off burying your dead solidiers. Not trying to defend trance-state Russian bullshit. Too bad that McDonald's left Russia. Otherwise the Russian government could give the families of dead soldiers a free Big Mac to show their gratitude. Bunch of low-lifers running the country with the idiots lining up to put their heads up their butts.