I think that much of what has happened is really about protecting Russian access to the Black Sea and control of the Ukraine is critical for Russian foreign trade, naval access etc . If access is restricted by another country that is not in the Russian national interest. With all the talk about Ukraine being a part of NATO it poses a threat. If Ukraine was never to be a member and gave unconditional access to the Black Sea much of the national interest would dissipate. The rest of your comments would certainly come into play. Neither Ukraine or Russia are democratic countries, both have sham democracies.
