You suggested it's not clear why Russia invaded. Russia invaded with a very clearly articulated reason. And it's not to rid Ukraine of Nazis whatever some underlings said. Putin always made clear that Ukraine joining the EU or Nato is a line crossed that cannot be tolerated. Same as with the US that clearly stated it won't allow Russia to infiltrate Cuba right across the US sovereign territory. Love it or loath it but that's not false pretense. That's a very clear articulation of what Russia can accept and what it cannot accept.
What I disagree with you is dumbing this down as if it's not a very complicated geopolitical conflict with wide ranging ramifications.
Excuse me again but I made no such suggestion but stated the facts. Putin gave a long winded imperialist speech rambling about America and nazis and nato and Ukraine being part of Russia and a whole bunch of other nonsense. Today it’s biolabs.
And I get if you start parsing it out and digging into it you might find it complicated but it all designed to persuade YOU and deflect from the fact that he invaded a peaceful and sovereign nation for selfish and imperialist reasons.
The Russians have lost Eastern Europe from a political perspective. The Eastern Europeans want to join with the west for safety and prosperity reasons. Russia simply cannot offer them anything more than being a vassal state subject of Russia.
If you want to parse out Putin and weigh all sides as equal have at it but it’s all bullshit. The former bloc states are choosing the western alliance and that is the threat to the Russians. It’s no missiles or armies it’s democracy and freedom. Blue jeans and rock and roll.
This is more than likely the last run of what is left of the old guard of the USSR.