The blame for the invasion of Ukraine lies not with larger forces, but with the geopolitics of the world, which is driven by the most powerful military nation in the world, the United States. While Ukraine had the legal right to join NATO and the EU, the Western countries decided it wasn't ready for membership, and it was not a direct threat to the Putin regime.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for years, with tragic consequences for both countries. However, Ukraine is a corrupt democracy, whereas Russia is a corrupt autocracy, with Russian citizens being the greatest victims of the Putin regime.
The discussion revolves around the invasion of 2022 and whether Putin's hand in the invasion was forced by the expansion of NATO or if it was a result of Russia's violation of the international agreements signed by Moscow over the decades.
The argument that Russia is culturally inclined towards aggression and that NATO expansion is to blame for their invasions is pervasive in some circles, while others believe that there are mistakes made on both sides that need to be addressed.
Daryl Press discusses the Ukraine crisis and the concept of sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of treaties and international law over realist concerns for national security interests.