I am one who thinks that this war has a lot to do with resources. Not as much capturing the Ukrainian resources (mineral, oil, gas, food, water,... ) but rather about not allowing those resources to actually being put to use by Europe in collaboration with Ukraine. But there is a lot more about the war:
As i said, can't agree with such point of view. russia has surplus of resources: oil, gas, gold, most of Rare earth metals, food, animals, wood and a lot of other valuable things. So i doubt it would need another bunch of resources in Ukraine.
And Russia (at least didn't) consider Europe as enemy, so again, I don't see any reason to start this war to not allow Europe to get some ukrainian resources. It's pure ideological crusade against "corrupted russians" (ukrainians).
Here interesting moment:
"Бaнкиp Пyгaчёв нe paз гoвopил в интepвью, чтo eщё 10 лeт нaзaд Пyтинa интepecoвaли тoлькo 2 тeмы – Укpaинa и Гaзпpoм. Bcё ocтaльнoe былo eмy нeинтepecнo." https://t.me/tolk_tolk/12823Translation:
Banker Pugachev told in interview that 10 years ago Putin was interested into two things - Ukraine and Gasprom. Everything else were ignored.
...
I think that the geostrategic implications of having Ukraine between your main export resources (Siberia) and your main client to date (Germany / EU) are well above any cultural consideration on this war. To be honest, I do not believe that any single war in history was based merely on "cultural differences", but all of them can be explained in terms of resources and geostrategic interests.
As said, Putin does not want the EU to be an strategic ally of Ukraine, because in his mind it is his backyard to use at his will, and to the greater profit of "Russia Inc" (yes, mainly Gazprom).