I can understand why the former republics want to join Nato. I am only speculating it is not in America’s best interest to push too hard on Russia. They lost the cold war. They have their own security concerns. We both humiliate them and cause them security concerns. Thus they act aggressively, which is entirely predictable based on our foreign policy. You think the Russians are just gonna stand by and let a pro-euro government enact real change in Ukraine? But America was pushing for such a thing. Then the Russians separatist start a civil war with military backing from Putin. We act surprised. Did we expect them to just meekly accept our worldview?
Ukraine has been an independent nation since 1991. It's up Ukraine themselves what they want.