"The imperialist mindset is historically rooted in Russia...."

"In Russia’s view, success in Ukraine serves as a major stepping stone for reaching further goals. Russia’s long-term strategic aims remain unchanged: to dissolve the rules-based world order.
    "The key steps in turning the current international order around for Russia are re-establishing spheres of influence in Eastern Europe, and re-creating buffer zones.
    "This is the most important reason why Russian tanks rolled over the Ukrainian border on February 24, 2022, and why similar scenarios have unfolded in Russia’s 'near-abroad' many times before....
    "The imperialist mindset is historically rooted in Russia....
    "Lessons:  ... Russia will only refrain from testing NATO [if] it is absolutely certain that the objectives it seeks bear an unacceptable cost for the Kremlin. It is our objective to ensure that a severe defeat at an immense price is the only scenario....
    "NATO must be prepared, and the action plan is simple: ... in order to truly deter Russia, NATO must complete the strategy shift from deterrence by punishment to deterrence by denial...."

~ Estonian Foreign Intelligence Assessment: 'Russia’s War in Ukraine: Myths and Lessons' (as summarised by @BadBalticTakes who says the Estonians' "sober analysis -- dismissed for decades as paranoia -- has proven to be right on target. [It] has never been more widely read.")