Declassified Australia co-founder Antony Loewenstein says there is no doubt Vladimir Putin's vision of Ukraine is "rather removed from reality".
"In terms of Ukraine, I think there's no doubt, based on what Putin has been saying in the last weeks, but arguably years, is that his vision of (Ukraine), of Russian history, is rather removed from reality," Mr Loewenstein told Sky News Australia.
"Essentially he says Ukraine's not a real country, I don't recognise it as a real country, it's therefore part of Russia.
"And he therefore believes he has the right to go in and take that nation for himself or for the Russian people - it's important to note, of course, a number of Russians do not support that."
