Russia expert Hanna Notte argues yes in her new book, "We Shall Outlast Them." NOTTE: What Russia is doing in Ukraine is not seen through the prism of colonialism and occupation. And Russia really tapped into those grievances quite opportunistically. If we compare Russia's position in the world today to what it was in January 2022 before Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia's global influence has declined. Until there is domestic political change inside Russia - Russia looks at itself as a global power - it retains the ambition to project power into other parts of the world.