NATO’s Russian front is east of Poland. If Russia is gearing for a war, it’s to keep NATO off their doorstep. The US and Western Europe would be doing themselves bigger favors trying to work with Russia as an ally against the Jihadis than trying to realign the political orbit of the Ukraine.
Russia is invading right up to NATO's borders, and you, say that nonsense?
Perhaps. One mistake Western Europeans and the US make is that they fail to see ANYTHING from the Russian point of view. So perhaps Putin is just playing an active defense here. Or perhaps he really is trying to restore the old Soviet empire. My point: No one except Putin can say that they know for sure. And if you're not Putin, guessing wrong can be disastrous.
work with Russia as an ally against the Jihadis
Absolutely! That was an historical missed opportunity.