Something not mentioned is the fact that, after the Cold War, Americans promised Gorbachev they would not expand Nato if he’d let the Wall come down. They did anyway. Just one of the things Putin might think "justifies" his actions.

NATO was no threat to Russia as two member States already border Russia.
Myths examined in the article here.
The idea is a furfy presented by Russian sympathisers.
http://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1497272170954776580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1497272170954776580%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.canberradeclaration.org.au%2F2022%2F03%2F04%2Fsix-questionable-myths-about-the-russia-ukraine-crisis%2F

Putin has had his Black Belt in teakwando revoked. Cited is their Moto "Peace is more precious than Triumph."

Citing its motto “Peace is More Precious than Triumph” along with its "values of respect and tolerance," World Taekwondo announced on Monday it decided to withdraw the honorary black belt from Putin.

Examining Putins motives - He sees Russia as a failed and weak nation currently and wants to reclaim the old USSR and make it a World Power again competing with the West and China on the World Stage. Ukraine is rich in minerals, oil, gas, iron ore and coal and would enhance Russia's wealth. He does not see Ukraine becoming part of NATO as that isolates him as weak. He does not care for the people of Ukraine they are collatral.

"Americans promised Gorbachev they would not expand Nato if he’d let the Wall come down. "

That's false. Even Gorbachev confirms there were no such promises made or sought because at the time the only issue on the table was East Germany. Gorbachev sought promises that NATO troops wouldn't be put in East Germany and the US agreed.

There were no promises made to Russia because there was no country called Russia at the time. No one was concerned about NATO expanding into Poland etc because, at the time, Poland et al were still part of the Warsaw Pact and no one foresaw any change in that.

Putin uses this made up story to justify his expansionism and tooooo many people fall for it.

Speaking of promises, Russia agreed to respect Ukraine's borders if Ukraine gave up its nukes - which it did. How come no one expects Russia to keep its promises?

Western Australian, Rocco Locaicono, takes the opportunity to highlight Scott Morrison’s hypocrisy in 'Morrison: tough talk on Putin, feeble on freedom.'

While Morrison calls Putin a "thug" and pontificates on "authoritarian autocratic regimes " and the difference in "Western liberal democracies and others who want to support the rule of law", his words are in direct contrast to those he has used in relation to freedom and the rule of law in Australia.

For example, on several occasions, the Prime Minister has eviscerated the presumption of innocence, the cornerstone of Australia’s criminal justice system:

He has commented on the case of Brittany Higgins, who alleges she was raped in Parliament House. He has apologised to her, uncritically assuming the truth of her story. In doing so, he has jeopardised the trial of the accused.

Morrison prejudged Cardinal George Pell.

Morrison prejudged Australian SAS soldiers

Morrison has repeatedly backed over the past two years Daniel Andrew's de facto martial law over the state of Victoria, verbally encouraging Andrews to install "harsh penalties" for breaches of draconian laws.

Morrison has openly encouraged the lunatic, Mark McGowan.

Morrison made his disregard for freedoms clear in 2017 with his infamous statement that "Free speech doesn’t create one job, doesn’t open one business, doesn’t give anyone one extra hour. It doesn’t make housing more affordable or energy more affordable."

In 2019, the Institute of Public Affairs argued that "381 separate provisions had breached our fundamental rights during Morrison’s rule.

Dr. Loiacono, a Senior Lecturer at Curtin University Law School, writes that people like Putin are emboldened by the fact that they know that while Western leaders like Scott Morrison "talk about freedom, they don’t really believe in it, and consequently will probably never lift a finger to defend it".