Putin wanted his own version of NATO. Instead he has a failing alliance that has only made him look weaker since the invasion of Ukraine.

• Russia has its own defense alliance, the CSTO, intended to mimic NATO and promote Russian power.
• But experts told Insider it's never really worked, and is actually making Putin look weak.
• The CSTO has only once sent troops when called upon, and divisions have grown since the invasion of Ukraine.

In 2002, Russian President Vladimir Putin established a new organization widely viewed as his attempt to set up a NATO rival, made up of countries that were once part of the Soviet Union.