Putin's Decision Making and the War in Ukraine

I think Putin's judgment was that Ukraine was drifting out of the Russian orbit. I think he was projecting into the future to 2032 or 2042 and saying if nothing is done then that relationship will be very advanced indeed. And what Russia will have is a non-friendly or possibly hostile country on its more than 1000 mile border with Ukraine. That area will be used by the United States its allies and partners for their purposes.