Yes.
Look at the timeline
April 2008, Georgia and Ukraine applications to start joining NATO are rejected by Germany and France for fear of “provoking Russia”
August , Russia invades Georgia.
Conclusion: if you aren’t a member of NATO and you are Russia’s neighbour, then Russia will invade you.
This is not through western eyes, this is what is
Logically apparent.
2008 isn’t 2021. Nor was it the same US administration.
Please don’t think international relations are stagnant. That is objectively false.
And yes, Russia will invade neighbors. Never said they have not, nor they wouldn’t.
Russia will control a commodities-based economy. They will not be dependent on a globalist financial services economy. Ukraine is part of that equation, as well as put the world on notice it will not accept expanded NATO membership that would interfere with its strategic maritime interest.
All of this is ridiculously plain to see.