Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine primarily because he views Ukraine as historically and culturally part of Russia's sphere of influence and believes the two peoples are essentially one nation. His objectives include reestablishing dominance over Ukraine, preventing Ukraine from aligning with the West and NATO, and dismantling the current pro-Western government. Putin has also expressed a desire to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, terms used to justify his invasion but widely criticized as propaganda. He aims to control Ukrainian territory to secure Russia's geopolitical interests, including annexing regions like Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, and to weaken Ukrainian nationalism and independence. His broader goal appears to be erasing Ukraine as a sovereign state that can freely decide its alliances, reflecting a vision of recreating a Russian sphere of influence resembling the former Soviet Union. Putin has also sought to eliminate Ukraine's democratically elected President Zelenskyy to replace him with a pro-Russian leader. He openly states that all of Ukraine belongs to Russia, and his military actions and annexations suggest an expansionist ambition beyond just protecting Russian speakers in certain regions.
