Does that discount the notion of a buffer zone between the west and Russia though mate ?
Of course, all you say is true but that don’t mean planting NATO (and the EU chequebook) on the border of Russia won’t have consequences.
No country in the world would stand for it, certainly not America if the boot was on the other foot.
I don’t see what’s so complicated about saying “OK, no membership for Ukraine”
Then mate you have a case if he embarks on a full scale invasion.
You can’t goad the man into a fight then paint him as the bad guy when he says “ok then”
That is