NATO said no to Ukraine in November. So that wasn’t a goad.
And nobody is blockading Kalingrad, Lithuania has decided they don’t want this stuff in their country on their rail system, which is a basic right of sovereignty, and Russia has alternate paths available.
These are facts the Russians trolls want to ignore.
Yeah, kinda. Russia signed a treaty with them. Rail access easement in return for recognition of independence.
So it isn’t about “is there another way”.
Incidentally, this is the same rail network that Russia let us use to supply our effort in Afghanistan. Nothing like being an ingrate.