Part 4/12:
The Kremlin's current military operations serve distinct political objectives, often framed around perceived existential threats from NATO’s eastward expansion. President Vladimir Putin laid bare these sentiments in his February 2022 address marking the invasion of Ukraine, where he articulated fears of NATO's growing proximity to Russian borders as fundamental threats to national security. This perspective is intertwined with historical grievances stemming from the Soviet Union's fragmentation and the subsequent loss of influence in Eastern Europe.