I still don't believe the BMD systems are a huge factor. Does Putin bring them up much? Not that I'm aware. I still don't see this is a military war but an economic one, between the supplier of natural resources and the manufacturers. Same as the Colonist/Britain went through, ironically.

I believe that's why Putin goes into that long historical stuff. He's talking about an economic empire, not a military one (though of course can't have one without the other).

When Putin says NATO expansion I read that as corporate expansion to the point that it's weakening Russia's military strength.