.the prospect of Ukraine eventually joining NATO is a large part of the trigger for Russia's current actions"
To be honest, thats crap. NATO is no threat to anybody but itself. Its a defence pact. Anyone with any serious knowledge is aware of its limitations. Putin and the rest of his followers do as well. What NATO is though, is a conveinent boogy man.
An excuse to do and carry out particular actions under the auspices of not being threatened by the big and powerful NATO. The fact is, its been in decline for ages, and every one knows that. The threat to Russia and primitive society's like theirs are progress. When people in repressed 2nd world country's see ajoining county's move forward it makes it harder for the establishment to control.