http://dx.doi.org/10.17176/20220401-011042-0 https://verfassungsblog.de/distrust-trust-recognition/ Distrust – Trust – Recognition Preuß, Ulrich K. eng 2022-03-26 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 International relations Recognition Russia Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 Could it be that even Russia’s current political leadership is in truth not necessarily interested in conquering the land and people of Ukraine, but in proving Russia’s great power status? If so, the classification as a „regional power“ would be a violation of Russian self-esteem and status consciousness, for the healing of which Russia is starting a war that is contrary to international law, morally reprehensible, economically absurd and cruel, and devoid of any pragmatic rational explanation.