>>64501331
2004 was the big year that pissed off Russia.
>>64501321
Massive conventional build-up in Poland probably.

>>212674256
Russia: Stop expanding NATO yo our borders, NATO is an anti-Russian alliance and we're concerned a out our security
NATO: *expands Westward*

skip to 2014
>Maidan coup happens in Ukraine
>Ukrainian ultranationalists sieze power of the Ukrainian government
>Language minorities in Ukraine get worried about their safety and ask for more autonomy
>the new Ukrainian government clamps down hard on opposition in the east, civilians are killed
>prolonged insurgency starts

Skip to 2021
>after numerous rounds of peace talks Ukrainian government promises autonomy for Eastern provinces
>Ukrainian government reneges on that promise, and begins violating the language rights of minorities in Ukraine
>Putin asks Zelenskyy if he still abides by the Minsk II agreement, Zelenskyy says no

2022 war starts
>Russia tries to quickly topple Zelenskyy's government
>for whatever reason Ukraine and Russia agree to peace talks in Istanbul
>Ukraine promises to abide by the terms of the peace agreement in Istanbul
>Boris Johnson convinces Zelenskyy to again renege on those peace terms, promises unlimited Western weapons for the Ukrainian military, Zelenskyy agrees
>war continues up to the present day
>hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers have died on both sides, Ukraine lost even more territory than they would have if they agreed to the 2022 Istanbul agreement