title: History of the Empire and Strategic Culture of Russia: A Reflection on Mearsheimer’s Work on Ukraine
abstract: In this paper, we examine the arguments presented by John Mearsheimer in his work on the Ukrainian crisis.Guided by the principles of neorealism, Mearsheimer fundamentally portrays Russia as a declining power forced to defend itself due to Washington's reckless policies.Policies driven by liberal ideals rather than the principles of realpolitik led to NATO's expansion into parts of Europe that constitute Russia's sphere of interest, ultimately resulting in the conflict in Ukraine.While we agree 
journal: The Review of International Affairs