RE: NATO provocation. Stop trying to twist history.

FACT: On 01 February 2008. US Ambassador to Moscow, William Burns, sent a top secret high priority memo to Condoleeza Rice, the National Security Advisor to President Bush, advising specifically, in very clear terms, that if NATO extended an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance, Russia would perceive that invitation as a threat and might have to intervene.

What did the West do? What did the USA do?

FACT: In April 2008 - three months after Burns sent his memo - the U.S. and NATO announced an "Open Door" invitation to Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO. They did EXACTLY what Burns had warned would solicit a response from Russia.