What does Vladimir Putin actually want?

President Vladimir Putin of Russia made clear his intentions 17 years before the first Russian tank crossed into Ukraine in February 2022.

Addressing the 2007 Munich Security Conference, Putin launched a scathing attack on the post-Cold War international order. Standing before Western leaders, Putin denounced American unipolarity, rejected NATO expansion, and demanded recognition of Russia’s sphere of influence. Putin’s threats fell on deaf ears.