For decades, NATO moved closer to Russia’s borders despite repeated warnings that such expansion would be viewed as a direct security threat. Was this predictable escalation ignored in favor of geopolitical ambition?
At the same time, Ukraine’s right to choose its alliances raises hard questions. Is sovereignty absolute if those choices destabilize an entire region? Should great powers be expected to tolerate military alliances advancing to their doorstep—or was conflict an inevitable outcome of strategic overreach? And ultimately, where does responsibility lie: with the nation seeking protection, or with the alliance that kept expanding despite the risks?