Putin's antagonism toward Ukraine was never just about NATO – it's about creating a new Russian empire
- Written by Emily Channell-Justice, Director of the Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program, Harvard University
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
As some Western observers have feared, Russian President Vladimir Putin has just proved that his aggression toward Ukraine was never really about NATO.
In a speech on Feb. 21, 2022, Putin recognized the occupied territories in Ukraine of Donetsk and...