Is it wrong to see this situation as a mirror image of the Cuban missile crisis?
“Cuban missile crisis”
It’s the closest analogy we have.
But to a neocon, Russia has no right to expect or demand anything.
Only destruction.
“Is it wrong to see this situation as a mirror image of the Cuban missile crisis?”
Yes it is similar as in 1961 the USA tried to invade Cuba, forcing the Cubans to look for protection.
Russia keeps invading its neighbors. Georgia joined the CSTO, the Russian rival to NATO, but that didn’t protect them from Putin attacking.
With Russia threatening invasion of all its neighbors, it makes perfect sense that they would turn to the USA for protection.