Madeleine Albright, just weeks before her death on Wednesday at the age of 84, predicted Russian President Vladimir Putin was making a historic mistake with what was then his planned military invasion of Ukraine.

Should he invade, it will be a historic error, Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state, warned in her final column for The New York Times published on Feb. 23.

Instead of paving Russias path to greatness, invading Ukraine would ensure Mr. Putins infamy by leaving his country diplomatically isolated, economically crippled and strategically vulnerable in the face of a stronger, more united Western alliance, she wrote.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine the following day.

Amid fierce Ukrainian resistance, up to 15,000 Russian troops are reported to have been killed to date. NATO allies have firmly denounced Putins aggression and economic sanctions imposed by the West are choking Russias economy.