Sorry, that's crazy. Invading Russia would very well lead to nukes being used.
There is no other reason for why the West pushed NATO eastward. No other reason exists.
How about protection from a russian invasion? No one "pushed", former captive nations were eager to join NATO.
Finland dropped 75 years of neutrality with Russia, because it realized its agreements with Russia were worthless, just like all the agreements Ukraine had with Russia.
Crazy or not, there is no other viable explanation for expanding eastward and posing a threat to Russia.
Russia could have been contained by pulling back, with a promise of eastward expansion if they did not hold themselves in check. Did we try that option?
No, we just expanded eastward and damn the Russians.
We provoked this situation. We caused it because our leaders had dreams of owning $75 trillion in mineral wealth dancing in their heads.