Well, from my experience so far with Putin, and in extension Russia, I would say he is more on the defensive side and trying as much as possible to pacify the West, but it seems the west is programmed to be aggressive, the attacker, colonizer, conquerer...All it cares about in this regard is the defeat of Russia . It's very much similar to what we know of the Muslim World esp the Arab region where minds are set on countries that are not yet under their influences. There is absolutely no way to please them except to be Muslims and possibly write in Arabic. In the case of the West, which I classify as northwest regions/countries of the world with dominant ideology people call Liberal, which is made to look like it's about liberation, freedom and making the world a better place. But in truth, it's an ideology that's counterfeiting the true liberation, freedom and better world that Christianity represents. There is no liberation, freedom or better world outside of True Religion like True Christianity. So the West tries to spread a counterfeit Christian-like ideology globally in aggressive, and in most cases, indirect/subtle manner. Russians from what I can tell seem to be more aware of this and have been on the defensive, by trying as much they can to protect their country from being weakened internally and externally via division, culture change, extermination, oppression of Russians or people with strong ties with Russia
You see, this issues are very much expected because of the great deviation from what would have bonded people together. Humans were meant to be united by one ideology that is founded on the Word of the CREATOR of this World but they choose to follow their own ideologies which are creating the confusions, contradictions, differences, crisis, etc. So this will continue until every human who isn't rooted in solid Christian principles is completely under the control of strongest world's power.
I wouldn't call Russia or Putin a liar. I think Russian Heads try as much as possible to be honest. If there is lie it's likely not deliberate. And they are quite smart with words which can make it look like they are lying. You need to be more intelligent to understand the message they are trying to pass across otherwise you misconstrue it as lie.
In regards to comparing Putin with Hitler, well I do not see any similarity at all. Unless maybe Putin is secretly breeding blue eye people, doing brain experiments, nazi solute, invading countries to spread nazism, spreading socialism, oppressing Jews, etc
You write that Russians are forced to defend themselves, but no one attacked Russia. Russia itself attacked Ukraine. In this war, Russia is considered the aggressor country.