In his recently published Op-Ed piece, Nicholas Lovric, a researcher and consultant, argues that Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a dramatic geopolitical shift, achieving the opposite of what he initially intended. Putin’s justification for the invasion, rooted in fears of Ukraine’s increasing ties with the West, led to the largest European war since World War II.

Nicholas Lovric, who specializes in Russian and Eastern European affairs, argues that although  Putin framed the invasion as necessary to “demilitarize and de-Nazify” Ukraine and protect Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine, his real objective seemed to be eliminating Ukraine as a sovereign state and installing a pro-Russian government. However, as the war unfolded, Putin’s military ambitions faltered, especially following a failed attempt to seize Kyiv.

Lovric, in this Op-Ed piece published on the Oped Column Syndication, explains that Russia’s retreat from Kyiv, after suffering heavy resistance from Ukrainian forces and civilians, signaled to neighboring countries like Finland and Sweden that Putin’s aggression had backfired. Instead of discouraging NATO expansion, Russia’s actions pushed these nations to seek greater security by joining the alliance.

NATO’s unity and growth, particularly with the accession of Finland and Sweden, now exemplify how Putin inadvertently strengthened the very entity he sought to weaken.

The Op-Ed underscores the unintended consequences of Putin’s invasion: far from diminishing NATO’s presence at Russia’s borders, the war has bolstered the alliance and pushed more European countries toward NATO membership. Lovric concludes by highlighting how the Russian president’s aggressive tactics have, in the end, led to a stronger, more unified NATO, directly contradicting his original objectives.