"Putin would have always been able to attack Ukraine. He's not bound to some sort of world government contract. He can do anything in his power as the President of Russia, and that includes attacking Ukraine, even if for stupid or inconsistent reasons."

i was answering this. he is not - unlike the western press tends to say - stupid or incosistent. he is literaly the most consistent leader of his era. we know what he wants and what he protects. he never changed his mind on the key areas of his geopolitic view of the world. not like europe or us presidents do every new election or new mandate to get more voices. Putin always said that ukraine was to remain neutral. and if you play around words then by your logic even biden would be able to press the red button and extinct mankind for stupid or inconsistent reasons.