I actually do get Russia having a violent response against a hostile alliance coming up right to their borders. That side of it makes sense to me. But also, NATO and EU membership was much less of a priority for Ukraine before Russia started invading their borders and killing their citizens. Once Russia has rolled their military into neighboring sovereign nations and started killing and raping and blowing up homes, I think they’re forfeited their right to whine about the unfairness if their neighbors decide to join a mutual-defense alliance that can beat the shit out of them.
I can show you one fairly well-known example.
I actually do get Russia having a violent response against a hostile alliance coming up right to their borders. That side of it makes sense to me. But also, NATO and EU membership was much less of a priority for Ukraine before Russia started invading their borders and killing their citizens. Once Russia has rolled their military into neighboring sovereign nations and started killing and raping and blowing up homes, I think they’re forfeited their right to whine about the unfairness if their neighbors decide to join a mutual-defense alliance that can beat the shit out of them.