So you can't see this from a Cuban Missile Crisis pov? You can't see that Russia don't like NATO in Ukraine in the same way USA didn't like the Soviets in Cuba?

Granted it's not quite the same, NATO haven't yet put any missiles in Ukraine, but that's what this is about. Putin doesn't want NATO on his doorstep. He already has NATO in three border countries - Estonia, Latvia and Norway, though you could walk the Norway border in a day it's so small. NATO has already pushed Putin to the limits of his tolerance by being in these places. Russia trusts Finland because they have never seeked NATO membership (more hassle than it's worth for them), but Ukraine is different. idk why that's a red line for him when Latvia and Estonia are not, but that's where we are.

Of course it's easier to believe he's just literally Hitler and he wants to take over the world. If you don't want to understand the enemy, fair enough, but at least admit it.