I don't understand what the current Russian (president) is thinking -- some people say that, however I want to ask them,
"You really don't understand?""
To me, the Russian mindset is palpable.
The use case is our country, Japan, around 1930-1945.
-----
- Establishment of puppet neo-Russian government in southern Ukraine ---> Puppet state of Empire of Japan (Manchukuo) created by runaway military in northeastern China
- Resolution of Condemnation of "Border Transformation by the Power of Russia" from the Countries of the United Nations ---> Resolution of Condemnation of "Establishment of a Puppet State by the Power of Japan" from the Countries of the League of Nations (*)
(*) Moreover, Japan is leaving the League of Nations, abandoning its position as a permanent member of the League of Nations (what a waste).
- Economic partnership between Russia, China, and Iran ---> Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan
- Violation of the prohibition against the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of a country (Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter) ---> Unilateral abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Nonaggression Pact
Russia said that it was taking the lead this time "for its own self-defense," but Japan at that time also claimed that it was "for our self-defense" in establishing Manchukuo and expanding southward (invasion).
Incidentally, the overwhelming majority of the Japanese people at that time overwhelmingly supported this "right of self-defense of our country.
To me, there does not seem to be much difference between Russia today and Japan back then.
-----
Incidentally, treaties, whether bilateral or multilateral, can be broken unilaterally.
Moreover, there is no penalty. This is because there is no entity that can enforce effective penalties.
Wife: "So what's the treaty for?"
Ebata: "I would say it's only a 'comforting' measure. Of course, countries that break treaties lose international credibility, and they can retaliate by raising tariffs or other measures, but that's about it.
-----
Of course, there is no need to defend Russia's invasion of Ukraine, not even a millimeter.
As a member of the Western world, our country (Japan) feels that condemnation of Russia is both an emotional justice and a national interest.
But that doesn't mean I don't understand those who profess that they don't understand Russia's "behavioral principles" at all.
A cursory study of modern world history ("imperialism") will make this obvious.
-----
History has shown us that
"For the sake of its own security, any nation will not hesitate to overstep the interests of other nations"
and that, as far as I know, there is not a single exception to that rule.