One could easily make an argument that the expansion of NATO provided Putin with a cover to pursue his own geopolitical agenda of reestablishing a 21st century Russian empire, extending far beyond its present borders and shorn of any democratic features. It’s no secret that he never recognized the sovereign rights of Ukraine and coveted its inclusion into a greater Russia.

Up until recently though, an invasion of Ukraine wasn’t opportune from Putin’s vantage point. It would have appeared as naked aggression to the world and likely garnered little support from even states friendly to Russia. But the ill considered and dangerous march of NATO to Ukraine’s borders changed that calculus in Putin’s mind. It allowed him, he thought, to present Russia as an aggrieved party and reluctant aggressor against Ukraine, while pointing the finger at the oligarchies in U.S. and Western Europe and NATO as the real culprit. But his calculus is proving to be wrong. The world is repelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Putin’s message to the world that Russia’s nuclear weapons systems are on alert should be reminder that humanity has to address the unfinished business of nuclear disarmament. It should also puncture any illusions that some on the left have about Putin. But it hasn’t which only goes to prove that reflexive thinking can be a stubborn thing.

To think that some left news sites were mocking Biden for saying that Putin was preparing to invade Ukraine as if it was the furthest thing from his mind. What they failed to understand is that Putin isn’t so much a defensive and reactive actor as a bullying and power aggrandizing one. He aim is to restore a greater Russia to its former “glory.” Neither working class internationalism nor Lenin’s right to national self determination are in his vocabulary nor inform his practice. Perhaps long ago and far away they were, but not now. In his mind, they are relics of a different era. The new Putin is disdainful of national boundaries and is comfortable threatening the world with nuclear war.

There’s a lot of soft opposition to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in the name of marxism, class politics, and inter-imperalist rivalries. It’s a fight among oligarchies – Russian, U.S. Ukrainian – we are told. U.S. imperialism has done far worse. NATO set the table here. Seldom, if at all, do Ukraine’s people appear – fighting, dying, fleeing, hoping – in such analyses. Nor does Ukraine’s fledgling democracy merit a word. Nor does Ukraine’s sovereignty get a nod. Even Putin’s order putting Russia’s nuclear forces on alert doesn’t register much in their reflexive scheme. Am I surprised? Not really.

Even if the U.S. and other NATO countries were pressing to admit Ukraine to Nato – which isn’t the case – does it follow that such an action gives Putin the green light to invade the Ukraine. I don’t think so, but more than a few people on the left make this argument either explicitly or by inference.