How many countries are you willing to sacrifice to Russia in the hope of a warmer relationship? Or are you merely suggesting that NATO should have held back and allowed Russia to expand to it?
I’m not sure it is in our best interest to “save” countries that used to be former Soviet Republics. And do you want America to be forever tied to eastern European security near the borders of Russia?
It’s less a question of sacrificing other countries as it is a question of what is America’s proper role in the world. And in regards to being the world’s policeman, there are limitations when it comes to countries with nuclear arsenals.