{ In 2008, US Ambassador (later CIA Director) William Burn cautioned that NATO expansionism “particularly to Ukraine” could cause a Russian invasion, stating, “In Ukraine, [fears surrounding such expansion include] that the issue could potentially split the country in two, leading to violence or even, some claim, civil war, which would force Russia to decide whether to intervene.” He goes on: “Experts tell us that Russia is particularly worried that the strong divisions in Ukraine over NATO membership, with much of the ethnic-Russian community against membership, could lead to a major split, involving violence or at worst, civil war. In that eventuality, Russia would have to decide whether to intervene; a decision Russia does not want to have to face.”
{ In June 2022, a WSJ/National Opinion Research Center poll showed 55% of Ukrainians believed NATO (and 58% wrt the US, 70% wrt the Ukrainian govt.) bears some/a great deal of responsibility for the Russian invasion and ongoing war.
Russian propaganda runs deep!!
Nobody said it wasn’t a “big deal.”