> Explaining his position on NATO, Putin said that Russia is part of European culture. “I can't imagine my own country apart from Europe and the so-called civilized world, so I can hardly imagine NATO as an enemy.
The problem is that the Russian understanding of "civilized" is different from the Western one.
Just look at the "civilized" way he treats his people.
Let's not even talk about the Moscow bombings that got him into power. The "it was an inside job" conspiracy is true, but in Russia, not in USA.
Putin views what he's doing now in Ukraine as a civilized thing to do, Russia was promised things, wronged and now he's solving the problem after warning about it. Like civilized man do.
This is why Russia will never be in NATO. Everybody understands that the Russian bear will lash out after a perceived slight.
There is a great talk about "honor culture" versus "dignity culture". Russia is a "honor culture", the West is a "dignity culture". They don't mix.
All the Putinology tries to sell you that the trouble with Putin is entirely subjective. But it's not (that much).