This is where we fundamentally disagree. Why would Russia want to expand? Putin could have easily annexed dozens of other regions. He did not. Not sure what's up with this painting the devil on the wall regarding Russia. Most have such obscured opinions and thoughts of Russians. Have you been there? I have and most metropolitan areas are flooded with young, pretty cool, and real fun loving people who come across as hard working and sincere. Even remote regions, including Siberia are populated by incredibly generous and hospitable people, at least those whom I have met. Then about the government, which region has Russia occupied and expanded to that really did not deserve it or did not provoke Russia? And please don't mention Chechnya or Afghanistan. Ukraine is and was a hotpot for drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the mafia in general. They countless times sabotaged Russian gas pipelines and at times decided to just not settle their bills with Russia anymore, you know, just for giggles. Suddenly the entire woke leftist work is crying out how the evil empire dared to march into the Ukraine.
Where have you been all this time?
You haven't been following the news at all?
What regions could have Russia annexed? He already did the same annexation treatment to Georgia, Kazakhstan and others were likely next on the list. Throughout history Russia has illegally annexed lands of Japan, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and others. And I'm talking about peacetime here, ignoring wartime gains.
Putin has on numerous times said that he'd restore the Soviet Union if he could. Most Russians also don't view countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine as real and the cultures are a joke to them.
I've been to Russia but more importantly I've grown up in an area that's ~50% Russian. Visiting Russia doesn't make you understand them at all, living with them does so more. What you don't get is that they want a strong leader at ANY cost. They don't seem to mind if someone sends them to die for the leaders own ego.
You talk about Siberia, those people aren't even ethnic Russians. Eastern half of Russia is mostly non-Russians.
Ukraine certainly has a lot of criminal elements but a newsflash for you, so does Russia. The country is powered by corruption. And any amount of corruption justifies invasion? If that's your standard then Russia should have started with Africa, why not the Philippines? Invade them because they're corrupt. An odd argument you made.
The pipeline was on Ukrainian land, if Russia did have an issue with payments then they were free to seek alternatives and they did. Legally Estonia and Finland can close the gap in the Finnish gulf, AFAIK that means NS1 and NS2 are not guaranteed to remain Russian/German.