I also want to be clear that the US backed invasion of Iraq was also a similar colonial venture made on false pretexts that cost many many lives. So I am, in no way shape or form saying that somehow USA is great or just or whatever. They (USA) have committed similar crimes in the past as well and got away with it. NATO however, was not involved in IRAQ war....which again shows that NATO is not some American controlled coalition as Chomsky suggests.
The problem for Russia is NATO has been growing and adding countries from Eastern Europe, like Poland, with Ukraine also wishing to be part of NATO. This is very unsettling to Putin and Russia, so a gesture was made to reverse this trend back to the security of the former USSR; buffer zones around Russia instead of an old Cold War enemy on your doorstep.
His main source of fear is connected to the USA. This is a unique time politically in the USA, with a social Civil War being instigated from both sides but mostly from the side that hates America; Left. The Democrats are not new to starting Civil Wars, since they did this in the 1860's to maintain slavery.
This is not the same USA, as during the era of the dismantling of the USSR. Then the USA was more unified and under common sense control. But since then, the American Left and has tried to alter the country into Big Government into Socialism and in doing so has created international insecurity, since all economies needs a strong USA capitalist partner.
Putin is more old fashion and could accept the America of the late Cold War Era. This was the American cultural background for dismantling the USSR. But he is paranoid of the new divided America, since it has become an unpredictable wild card based on elections, false charge and fake news. This is not the same nation Putin semi-trusted, as before, when it was considered safe to dismantle the USSR and expose Russia.
The Conservatives are more old school and are less feared by Putin, since they don't talk with two faces like the Left; ends justify the means. For example, we all knew where Trump stood, whether we agreed with him of not. He did not wave in the wind or do surveys to manipulate the undecided. He is still the same. Biden used to be down the middle, but has swung extreme left. Putin needs solid reassurance from people with the one face for conviction, or else he will continue to fortify his nation via USSR expansionism.
The Left is also the side that is preaching Globalism. If we did achieve globalism, where does the Left see itself? In the drivers seat. This is an international threat to sovereign nations. One way to have globalism is some type of war; physical or economic, since not everyone wants this or feels safe by this goal. Resistance is strong, so the approach may need to become stronger.
I tend to think that after the midterms, and the Republican win seats in both Houses and control the Senate and House this will settle down. Globalism ambitions, will be done for now. However, the Left is predictable and may start riots and claim voter fraud, while ignoring their poor record. They will blame everyone bur themselves for their disaster.
Don't get me wrong, I do not think Russia should have invaded Ukraine. But I can see why he is paranoid with the current USA. If you political goal was to destabilize the USA, with division, you will also destabilize the rest of the world. People like Putin will feel this first. USA needs to find a common front, that does not look like impending civil war, with fake news fanning the flames. There may be some useful changes made by the new Majority in the fall of 2022, such as holding social media's foot to flames, since they contribute to instability with two faced censorship.
