Putin said some very interesting things in his news conference. He feels they are being hemmed in by the west and the build up of additional forces on the borders are leaving him little room to manoeuvre. Russia lost the most, over 20 million people in WW2 and they promised it wouldn’t happen again, He must show he is strong IMO.
Yes, and I can personally see his point of view. Without the Soviet Union, who some historians calculate it is up to 24 million that they lost in WW2, China losing up to 20 million, the allies could easily have been defeated. The conflict would have lasted far longer and Hitler Vengeance / Retribution weapons would have been developed to such a point that they regained the upper hand.
The UN countries must do more to work with Putin to avoid conflict which nobody, including Russia, wants. I believe the West owes Russia enough to try and accomplish a compromise. 2022 cannot be a 1939 German situation for Russia. The Ukraine cannot be another Czechoslovakia. If it becomes it, World War will follow