Looking at this from the standpoint of the US wanting to discredit all the advances Russia made on the International Stage, especially with the EU, not to mention the formation of Brics, and pipeline advances. Coupled with a US PRes. who could not gain “respect” among International Leaders, you can see that Alibama had to keep the ball moving to someone slow Putin down.......and the Atlantic Council/Nato had to slow him down.
They ‘chose’ Ukraine for the conflict....and here we are.
Interesting Putin is now operating in Cuba and South America....in our backyard....Putin makes no deals out of the goodness of his heart....dropping Cuba's humongous debt, in the billions, you can't help wonder what he got in return?...and what deals he will forge in S.America as well.
A major fault with that reasoning is the assumption that Putin is just a nice guy who wants "respect." That he, or Russia, would not dare to meddle in the affairs of his, or its, "near abroad," despite years of statements and behavior proving the opposite.
So the US, the Atlantic Council (whatever the heck that is), and NATO did not "choose" Ukraine. Geography, Russian history, and Ukraine's memory of Russian history did.
One good thing about Putin and Cuba/S. America? When something happens, he won't be able to blame NATO. He will try, anyway.