Why would Putin invade Ukraine?

17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under review.The article of record as published may be found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/16/why-would-putin-invade-ukraine/The looming threat of a full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine kept the world on edge for much of 2021, and for good reason — an attack of this magnitude would arguably be the most significant invasion of a European country by a more powerful neighbor since Adolf Hitler’s assault on Poland in 1939. But what purpose would this move serve? As Russia’s preparations and threatening rhetoric have mounted, analysts have pointed out that another invasion of Ukraine would make little sense from a foreign and security policy standpoint.U.S. Government affiliation is unstated in article text