Pick a fight with the bully, you’d better make sure you can handle it yourself - instead of looking over your shoulder to see if your big brothers NATO, the European Union and the US will back up your big mouth...
“Pick a fight with the bully, you’d better make sure you can handle it yourself - instead of looking over your shoulder to see if your big brothers NATO, the European Union and the US will back up your big mouth...”
No, the bully picked a fight with his victim.
Russia started this in the winter of 2014 (invading Crimea in late February, 2014 and occupying it, and annexing it three weeks later). Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine violated international law and agreements, and the international community condemned it and did not recognize the annexation.
This was an illegal annexation.
Russia also fomented and stirred up revolution in eastern Ukraine, especially the Donbas area. This was coincident with Russia’s invasion of Crimea, though it had seeded the revolution some time prior to that. Russia moved forces into eastern Ukraine contemporary to its move into Crimea.
So, no; the victim did NOT pick a fight with the bully.
But, you know that.