Expansionist? No.

Putin literally started an imperialist land war to expand the territory and capture resources (and stay in power for a while longer).

You’re confusing the Soviet regimes of the past with the current country.

No, you have it backwards.

The Soviet government at least had some noble goals for their expansion, and measurable improvements to the lives of people on the captured territories.

Russia is an oligarchy and the only goals are territorial gains, resource exploitation and enriching the richest at the expense of the poor under the pretext of wartime nationalism. Same as the US, really, but with less power and resources.

Look at where progressive policies have gotten the west thus far!

You seriously think that the current state of the west is due to "progressive policies" and not capitalism and nationalism? If anything, progressive policies (women's rights, LGBT inclusion, secularization, education for all, universal medical care (in places where it exist), and some limited labor rights) are one of rare good things that's been happening in the west.