P.s. at the Khrushchev he was not talking about putting the Soviet Union back together, it was the Soviet Union he was leader of. No need to put it back together. I doubt Khrushchev ever could have ever imagined it would fall. Big ego back then, not that Putins ego is not bloated

he thinks it will help. There’s a reason he wanted Ukraine it opens the door to the other old Soviet countries. He’s already talked about taking Estonia and has been clear he wants to reclaim influence over former Soviet states. With USA not willing to jump in, no push back makes it easier.