Russian President Vladimir Putin. Archival photoMOSCOW, 24 Aug. The conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided if the West and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky had not allowed arrogance to guide their actions, writes Daniel Davies for 19FortyFive.
«The arrogance of the West and Zelensky's unwillingness to make informed decisions based on objective reality doomed Ukraine to a conflict that could almost certainly have been avoided,» the publication says. 
Zelensky was ready to resign, WP writesThe author recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin's repeated warnings that NATO's eastward advance is red line and constitutes a «serious provocation».
Davis noted that Putin would continue to act in the interests of his country, and Washington and Brussels should not have allowed a bad decision to be made because of the emotional plea of Zelensky, whose country is not part of NATO.
Russia has been conducting a military special operation in Ukraine since February 24. According to President Vladimir Putin, the ultimate goal is the liberation of Donbass and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself. Allied forces have already completely liberated the Luhansk People's Republic and a significant part of Donetsk, including Volnovakha, Mariupol and Svyatogorsk.