I agree with a lot of Chris Hedges views. But the wrongs of America do not automagically translate to the Ukraine situation and Russia being a poor victim. In this case, and we don't know all the ins and outs, it is very difficult for unbiased people not to ask: when Russia was amassing its forces on the Ukrainian border, couldn't it have negotiated? Macron, Scholz, Biden and Jelenzki all wanted to talk. They called or went to see him in person. Putin wasn't interested. And in the end Ukraine is important for pipelines and access to the Black Sea (Odessa). On top of that, I think that Putin is obsessed to be seen as one of Russia's Great Tsars that children worldwide will learn about in school. Why else deplore the falling apart of that pathetic aglomeration that was the USSR?