Both the political elites and society at large in Russia are obsessed with Ukraine because of, firstly, Russia’s perennial quest for a strong state; secondly, the struggle of the Kremlin with the colour revolutions; thirdly, the perception of Ukraine as a mirror image of Russia; fourthly, “East Slavic” ideology; finally, Putin’s belief that Ukraine is “an artificial country”. In the 2022 war, Putin wants to make progress towards all these aims through toppling the pro-Western government of Ukraine, making the country a vassal state like Belarus, and signalling that further expansion of NATO to the east will not be tolerated. The status of a buffer state for Ukraine would become a factor that affirms the tumultuous situation not only in Ukraine but in the whole region.
RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE: REASONS AND CHALLENGES
