The start of withdrawal predates implosion. Where are the examples? Please give examples of Russian imperialism.
Don’t play the liberal idiot fallacy, putting causes and effects upside down, while at it. I need examples from between 1991-2007 before NATO encroached on the Russian border.
The fact that you define sovereign nations choosing to pursue (with various degrees of success) NATO membership exposes you. I’m sure you’re not unfamiliar with Russia’s intervention starting in 1992 in the Georgian situation and their use of the conflict to leverage for military bases and regional control, and Russia’s intervention in Moldova in the early 90s for the same reason. Even the justification for the first Chechen War is dubious at best.
To pretend that Russia was withdrawn and silent until 2007, when “forced” into action by the west, is beyond false.