Ukraine was offered security guarantees by Russia decades ago. These meant nothing to Putin. He is a liar, and a murderer, his soldiers are likewise murderers and thieves. Russia threatened by a non-nuclear power that has older weapons supplied by Russia in the first place? Putin has publicly stated the real reason for his invasion of Ukraine. He wants his empire back. NATO and Europe's error was to let Putin get away with the 2014 annexation of Crimea and parts of Ukraine. Like Hitler's uncontested invasion of Rhineland, it sent the wrong message. The Rhineland incident was the precursor to WW2, if those now supporting Ukraine had a spine, this present miserable war would never have happened.Western nations will paint anybody who challenges them or who does something they don't want them to do as the 'bad guy'.
The reality RE Russia/Ukraine is this: The EU are on a power grab and invited Ukraine to join. Same for NATO.
Russia, perfectly understandably, saw this as a threat.
Tell me what benefit is Ukraine to the EU? Or to NATO for that matter? Ukraine is at best a sop to Putin's ego. He wants the USSR to be reconstituted. How can I say this? Putin has stated this publicly.