you have a very valid point. for sure.
The West was supposed to help the East integrate and assimilate into the modern world and economy. Perhaps the Ruskies were too slow so all the commie bloc countries came running to NATO. who knows. I doubt the Russians are innocent in this mess, thats for sure. But the West hasn’t done it’s fair part either.
It seems like the wall came down and the west decided to eat up the pieces instead of teaching them how to stand on their own feet.
In all honesty, i have no clue what i’m talking about, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night!
The West did help in a way, but what was important was that the countries themselves made the change -- compare Poland and Ukraine
Ukraine was hamstrung by sticking to the Russyski Mir, while Poland wasn't (I am simplifying yes)
That is one of the reasons why Ukraine did not want to stay with the Kremlin's plan in 2014 but wanted to be closer to the West.