You never said it wasn't a war,
Correct - thanks
but Putin says it is not a war
Correct - he never declared war onto Ukraine, nor does he speak of a war with Ukraine - he does however clearly state that NATO is engaged in a proxy war with Russia !!!
And around 40 countries,
openly agree with him.
What is a simple definition of imperialism?
To exert political, economic and military control/pressure onto a
peaceful sovereign country or territory.
(Most favored version to conduct Imperialism by the USA/NATO)?
imposing Sanctions onto those countries opposing US/NATO imperialism.
Sending French troops into Rwanda (before it became a UN mandate) to stop genocide therefore isn't imperialism nor French imperialism. However to support a dubious government via French troops in Rwanda before genocide broke out - was clearly French imperialism.
Was Bush senior. sending US Marines into Somalia - US Imperialism? after-all these Marines were not part nor under the command of the UN aka UNOSOM II, but under direct command of President Bush with the USA commanding/leading UNITAF forces.
As such sending e.g. Russian troops to protect separatists aka
civilians from being attacked (aka civil-war) and suppressed via a resented and rejected government as well as Ukrainian NAZI militias, e.g. Donbas/Luhansk and Crimea, isn't imperialism by definition at all.
Russia trying to take control of Ukraine is a clear act of imperialism, which you try to justify with the bizarre claim that the possible future membership of Ukraine in NATO might put Russia at risk.
No - Russia is trying to take control
away from NATO in regards to Ukraine - due to NATO being imperialistic - clearly demonstrated via it's non-stop eastward - expansion since 1990. Whilst Russia demanded and relied onto NEUTRALITY of former Warsaw -Pact states. Putin aka Russia, nor Yeltsin, NEVER demanded
nor pursued that e.g. Romania or e.g. Hungary joins the Russian Federations economic or military organizations. Ukraine had already broken the Alma-Ata, CIS protocol of 1991, in 1994 and 1998. Same goes for Georgia.
Your claimed/propagated Russian imperialism, especially in regards to former USSR territory, is a pure NATO and Western MSM hype. - with NO proof whatsoever at all.
You could only prove Russian Imperialism - if a NEUTRAL Ukraine, or e.g. Kazakhstan, or e.g. Lithuania would have been attacked by Russia - can you? NO YOU CAN'T.
And anything one can't forward proof, but comments onto - is what it is:
A mere personal assumption, or an intentional false statement.
Russia asserting control over other nations, is imperialism which you then try to justify with by talking nonsense about NATO.
What other nations? - and you still haven't come up with a single valid proof in that regard - again just a mere assumption or an intentional false statement of yours.