[packagingguy]

Yes the energy is a huge part of the equation with one of the largest gas fields in Europe located there and in Crimea. It was a major factor but there were others, mainly the proximity of NATO troops to Moscow. Whether true or not, Russia clearly believes that NATO is a threat and they have been saying so for many years. That’s why non-membership in NATO or other military alliances is one of their conditions:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4050584/posts

[Kevmo]

It was a major factor but there were others, mainly the proximity of NATO troops to Moscow.
***Estonia was in proximity to Moscow, why didn’t Vlad the Imploder invade them? Because they were part of NATO, that’s why. Bullies don’t pick on those who have protection.

Also, Estonia doesn’t have such yuge oil & gas reserves. Russia didn’t say much about Ukraine, even just plain ABANDONED their nukes there, when they were disintegrated. 3-4 years after that disintegration they sign the Budapest Memorandum. The Ukes HONOR that agreement, then oil is discovered and now allofasudden Vlad has a problem with supposed NATO sites being 200 miles closer to Moscow than they were before. What a pile of bullshit. This is about oil.

[ETCM]

Whether true or not, Russia clearly believes that NATO is a threat and they have been saying so for many years. That’s why non-membership in NATO or other military alliances is one of their conditions

But Russian Nukes, ships, submarines, fighters and bombers, and thousands of troops in Kaliningrad is A-OK. Russian nukes inside Europe, threatening all of the surrounding European countries? Maybe we should demand Kaliningrad be demilitarized since it's not just adjacent, but "within our borders" and not contiguous with any Russian territory.

Right now, Putin has nuclear weapons in the Baltics (Kaliningrad). Russia is the ONLY country with nuclear weapons in the Baltics. Imagine for a moment the hysterical fit Putin would throw if NATO announced it was stationing nuclear missiles in Estonia or Latvia? Russia has threatened to station nuclear weapons in Crimea, and suggested they have already done so in reaction to our Aegis Ashore system in Poland (a defensive anti-missile system). If Russia takes Ukraine, is there any doubt they will station nuclear weapons there, as well as air and ground forces that will threaten NATO? Russia talks about NATO, Nazis, corruption and "existential threats", but it's all about the gas, oil and geopolitical influence. Energy, control and power. IMHO, obviously.