I am neither a Putin or a Zelinsky fan. Yes, I think they are both corrupt in various degrees. They can't help it,
The Ukraine was dominated by the old USSR for years and Russia is the old USSR, rehashed...and they likely
learned corruption from the USSR.
I see one major factor..regardless of accusations of commuists, Nazis, Marxists or insurrectionists. it seems clear that Ukraine did not attack Russia..but Russia attacked the Ukraine.
OK, so Putin offered an excuse, claiming Nazis were numerous and dangerous, but that doesn't stand well.
Why did he interfere in Kazakhstan, and take over the Crimea, both territories liberated from the USSR
in the 1990s? No, that points clearly to expansionism.
NOTE: Putin pulled off his invasions during the Obama and Biden administrations, he was unusually quiet
when Pres Trump was in the oval office.
I would rather that no more Russians or Ukrainians would die to boost egos of basically self-appointed leaders.