Does Russian President Vladimir Putin understandably feel threatened by the growing number of former USSR countries that have become democracies and are trying to align with the West and its values? Or is he a dictator with a Hitleresque dream of expanding his power, influence and territory no matter how much money or how many Russian lives it costs?

Your answer could indicate what you think about the recent push for a peace agreement.

President Trump and Vice President Vance seem to embrace the first scenario, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainians, most of Europe, many traditional U.S. conservatives and even most liberals hold the second.

So, it’s a good time to compare Hitler’s military aggressions and broken treaties and promises with Putin’s to see how similar they are.

Hitler longed for the land, influence and power Germany once possessed. Similarly, Putin has been quoted saying, “The breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century.” He may not want to recreate the USSR per se, but it’s clear he wants most of the nearby countries directly or indirectly under his thumb —

© The Hill