Shots fired at Trump rally, page-1975

he had some good reason to suspect that the 'West' was encroaching on his borders

1. actually not ......and they coud never "encroach on russias borders " because of russias nukes ...but they never wished to .

2. Perhaps you are making that point about "sphere of influence "......Ukraine had tried for a long time to stay on the right side of russia .....but comments by putin made it plain he wanted Ukraine back in russia - (the Peter the great speech + the comment that Ukrainians were really just russians ) and Ukraine sought protection from the west .

3. this latter was not the west , but Ukraine , like all the other eastern bloc countries ,wanted to join NATO for their own protection

4. but they were not allowed to ....it was forbidden tio them by NATO law due to confliuct inisded Ukraine and because (at least ) Fr and Germ. both opposed anyway and to join a unanimous decision is required

5. Ukraine never wanted this war .....they simply wantred their independance ....which was their right .