“Sparky, it was the West who provoked Russia. Have you learned nothing or is this ignorance?”
Sparky, Russia has been screwing around in Ukraine for over a hundred years. Hell, even after Ukraine became independent in 1991 Russia only gave lip service to its independence, then in short order started making comments about its illegitimacy.
Ukraine posed no threat to Russia. The fiction that Russia did not want NATO on its borders? Just that: FICTION! There have been five NATO countries on Russia’s border for years, but Russia did not invade any of them; nor did it make any threats against them (Note: Those five are Norway; Estonia; Latvia, Lithuania; and Poland). There will soon be at least one more: Finland (which, since 1994 has had formal relations with NATO).
What do those five countries have in common? All five of them felt the Russian boot on its neck, and not a one of them wants to feel it again.
So, the “fear” of Ukraine joining NATO (which wasn’t going to happen anyway because Ukraine did not meet the criteria) was just another flimsy excuse for invasion.
I get it: You are a known and avowed supporter of Russia. It prevents you from being objective. Unless...unless you are just playing a role, perhaps for remuneration.
Sparky, the concept of a proxy war with NATO related to expansion has been explained to you for 6 months, yet you remain ignorant. I'm going to chalk this up to some form of learning disorder perhaps exacerbated by vaxxines and boosters. Whatever it is, please seek help.