Revelations from The Guardian indicate that the CIA and MI6 had gathered evidence of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine throughout 2021, yet European leaders did not fully grasp the threat. Vladimir Putin reportedly began considering military action during the COVID-19 pandemic, solidifying his belief that Ukraine's sovereignty was tied to Russia. Despite accumulating evidence, including satellite imagery of troop movements and warnings from intelligence agencies, Western governments and even Kyiv were hesitant to accept the possibility of a full-scale conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, elected on a peace platform, is reported to have downplayed intelligence assessments for months to avoid inciting panic.