alt Hacker NewsYou claimed that Russia invaded because its leader felt his hand was forced. You have offered no explanation of how it was "forced" to invade a sovereign neighbor.
I contend that it chose to invade because its leader wants to integrate Ukraine into the Russian Federation, and offered this as evidence of that desire. I think that contradicts your statement as to the true rationale for the invasion.
That essay demonstrates that Putin believes that Ukraine is closely linked to Russian civilization. That doesn't mean he believes Ukraine should be part of the Russian Federation, just that it should have close ties to it. The essay very explicitly advocates for the latter, and blames the West/NATO/"Nazis" for driving a wedge between the two countries.
(Of course, Putin's invasion has driven that wedge much further, and destroyed the relationship much more thoroughly, than the "Nazis" ever could. That's why I called him delusional)