Yes, Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea induced NATO to heavily militarize Ukraine.
Were you not aware of this? It was kept quiet, but not exactly secret.
> Since Crimea was annexed in 2014, the U.S. and partner militaries have helped grow Ukraine’s forces from just over 100,000 troops to nearly 250,000 [in 2017]. Just since January, Capt. Christopher’s unit of 250 soldiers has added another 3,000 or so Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev’s ranks.
The language in your post (particularly where you say "over a decade") misleadingly suggests that there was significant buildup pre-2014. And that poor, frightened Russia has just reacting the way any country would, in response to this imagined buildup.
How is 8 years not "nearly a decade"? How is +150% over 3 years "imagined"? I understand this is an emotional topic for some, but let's not be obtuse about the basic numbers.
By invoking the number "10", subtracted from 2022 -- you're making an allusion to Russia's claims that it was significantly threatened by Ukraine's buildup or NATO musings pre-2014 to do, well -- what it just had to do to protect itself.
How is +150% over 3 years "imagined"?
When it alludes to the pre-2014 situation -- as your post does.
Utter BS, both in terms of raw numbers and contextually -- in "eliding" the fact that they were invaded by a certain neighboring country in 2014.
As you are perfectly aware. Please stop posting nonsense like this.