John, you seem to have omitted the wicked Pixie Invasion NATO used to undermine good Russian morals, whereby invisible pixies crept into Russian homes and whispered that Russians should be permitted the same freedoms as those extant in places like Sweden and the Netherlands. This shocking act of aggression could not go unpunished. Then there was the US invasion of Russia, spearheaded by McSlop, Kentucky Fried Cancer, and all the rest of the fast-food franchises that have wrought such health havoc in the land of their origin. By destroying the health of millions of helpless Russian consumers, the West had clearly declared war on Mother Russia. Finally, there was the clear way in which, when Putin ordered the twin invasion of Ukraine in 2014, NATO did nothing despite the USA and the UK having a legal obligation to protect Ukrainian territorial integrity. This proved to Putin that the cunning West was merely pretending to be spineless, stupid, and complacent - Putin understood this was just a part of NATO's ten-thousand-year game plan to conquer Russia so as to enjoy its great food, its wonderful weather, and its irrepressible sense of fun.

So, naturally, Putin had to invade Ukraine again in 2022. What else could he reasonably do?