Russia’s Motivations for Invading Ukraine: Through Waltz’s Three Images Analysis

Abstract

After the Russo-Ukrainian War broke out, the motivations that caused Russia to launch the war are disputable and have no certain answers. In order to figure out the mystery, the article used Kenneth Waltz’s three images theory to analyze Russia’s motivations comprehensively. In the international image, NATO’s expansion enhanced Russia’s vulnerability, which provoked Russia’s aggressive reaction to Ukraine. On the other hand, the strengthening relations with China and Russia’s motivated bias embolden Russia to launch the war. In the domestic image, Russia’s stringent economic environment and embedded chauvinism stimulated Russia to solve the internal issue through war and restore its past glory. On the individual level, because of Putin’s ambition, he was attempting to use the war to sustain his popularity and wrote down his name in history.