History is important.

Prior to WW2 the Soviet Union was not regarded as a superpower. They needed a lot of equipment support from the allies, mainly the US to defeat the NAZIs. WW2 had made the Soviet Union a superpower. They lost that superpower status through bad management and the difficulties converting from communism to a free market.
Now it has happened again. NATO moved closer to Russia while refusing Putin's request to join the EU, Putin started a massive weapons buildup. Now over a year into the current conflict, Russia has emerged again as a genuine superpower, not only able to beat the combined west military, but able to prosper under the most draconian sanctions ever seen.
Russia is a superpower again. Thanks to NATO.
Iguess to let Putin join the EU like he wanted 20 years ago would not have provided the opportunity for all the graft and corruption we see now. At least some of the Ukrainian troops are giving up and their lives are saved.