Why Putin attacked Ukraine at this time?
It is fairly well-established that his dream has been to re-unite the old Soviet Union. But, why now?
America was no longer the leader of the "free world". Their country had become very divided, moreso than at any other time in his life time. NATO was rudderless with no leader.
If his plan was to invade and take over the country of Ukraine, there would be no better time than now.
When Donald Trump, possible candidate for the US presidency in 2024, made a public statement that he believed Putin to be a "genius" and very "savvy", it got his attention.
When Mike Pompeo made similar comments about how much he respected Putin, that only emboldened him further.
He made the decision that the time was right to take back Ukraine.
His irrational and criminal act of invading Ukraine, in the manner that he did, caught the attention of the entire world.
No doubt, he had hoped and had anticipated that Donald Trump would win the election in 2020. But Trump failed. Although he used every ounce of fight in his body to try and maintain control of the White House, including an attempted coup, he was unable to defeat Biden.
Trump had set up the pins. The country had never been more divided, at least since the Civil War times.
Now, Putin has put the world in a precarious position. His war crimes cannot be tolerated.
Although, there is little doubt, that once Putin finishes pummeling Ukraine into small rocks and dust, Trump will be the first in line to congratulate him.
Republican Congressmen and Senators will not be far behind.