2014, escalation into war started 2022. By that point, one million people had fled to Russia.
If you then remember the rethoric of the Ukr government and soldiers in Donbas how they want to get rid of the russians... ethnic cleansing is the term that fits.
Russia was building trust for years beforehand. Putin spoke twice in the Bundestag for example, the goal was a free trade zone from Lisabon to Wladiwostok. Russia also asked to join NATO. It got declined both times. Even when the coup happened in Ukraine, Russia attempted multiple diplomatic initiatives to deescalate the situation.
Do you know who always escalated? Who was always pushing for conflict? Hint: It wasn't Russia.
Sweden and Finnland, both already being de facto NATO members beforehand... You're not too informed baout this international politic thingy, aren't you?
Ziel war, über einen Waffenstillstand Zeit zu gewinnen, um später zu einem Frieden zwischen Russland und der Ukraine zu kommen. Sie hat diese Zeit hat auch genutzt, um stärker zu werden, wie man heute sieht.
Maybe read the rest. Macht deine Position weniger peinlich.
I'm german, let me translate: "The goal was to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine via a ceasefire. She (Ukraine is meant here) also used this time to get stronger (considering the context here being military conflict, it means stronger in the military sense.), as can be seen today."
Russia literally never entered any war without serious provocation beforehand.
It took Georgia killing peacekeeping forces for Russia to march in. It took 8 years of ethnic cleansing in Dinbas before Russia intervened in Ukraine.
Paradox has you covered. Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Rome, Stellaris, Victoria and Hearts of Iron. Take your pick and enjoy.
Buddy, if some organisation exists that has members, there will always exist "de facto" members (ones that support the organisation to a large extent, but are not also de jure members), de jure members (members that don't do anything) and both (the rest).
The organisation can make PR about how it has "partners" and the like, but that does not change a thing.