With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, there was a sense of victory among the liberal democracies.
A sense that the capitalist approach has won, and that Russia will go through democratic-Western procedures.
When I served as Israel's Ambassador to Russia, during the reign of President Boris Yeltsin, I witnessed, in various ways, the contempt of Western countries in Russia and the sense of humiliation felt by the Russians, alongside a sense of strategic threat to the Russian nation.
Only after the violent Russian invasion of Ukraine did the West realize the depth of the Russian imperialist conception, and the immense longing to be itself again.
As someone who as a KGB man experienced the collapse of the Soviet empire and watched Russia weaken, he fearfully saw NATO pushing its forces east, in stark contrast to Western promises after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Photo: AP
In the eyes of the world, Putin declared a "limited campaign" designed to overthrow Ukraine and "de-Nazify", in his words, Ukraine.
He does not use the term "war" so as not to bring to mind the Second World War (which is known in Russia as the "Great Patriotic War"), the heavy price it charged on Russian society has not yet been forgotten.
It will be recalled that following the ouster of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the transfer of power to the pro-Western opposition, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula.
In fact, Putin has already ruled that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU, since the EU will not accept countries with territorial conflict.
Extensive destruction of Russian bombs in Zhytomyr region, Ukraine //, Photo: Reuters
In Russia's view, Ukraine is nothing but a historical mistake.
Putin's intention, apparently, is to overthrow the country, eliminate the democratic regime and create a puppet government, which will be a protectorate of Russia.
Its motives are both ideological and geopolitical, in blatant violation of international agreements.
But Putin does not seem to have properly appreciated the strengthening of Ukrainian nationalism and the determination that the Ukrainian people will demonstrate.
In its forceful conduct, there is also a signal to the countries of the former Soviet Union, such as the Baltic states and Moldova, that they must be careful, since the West will not come to their aid in time of need.
Although in Russia the ruble has crashed, Putin still enjoys a lot of support.
The Russians feed only on the official media, because all the liberal media channels have been closed, the demonstrations have been banned and in fact there is no active opposition in Russia.
Putin managed to eliminate her.
Will the new economic sanctions imposed on Russia affect Putin and motivate him to sign a peace agreement?
There is no knowing.
It is clear, however, that Putin is well aware of European countries' dependence on Russian oil and natural gas, and is well aware of China's great hunger for oil and gas.
Putin, whose cruelty has been proven in the past, owes a picture of victory.
The picture, unfortunately, is still far away.
Prof. Aliza Shenhar served as Israel's Ambassador to Russia.
Brought to print: Assaf Golan.
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