In addition to the other responses:

> The sole reason Russia invaded Ukraine was that it was flirting too much with NATO.

Which was only a problem for Putin because Putin's world view is that Great Powers (such as Russia, in his mind) should have a sphere of influence, whereas most everyone else thinks Ukraine is a sovereign nation who has the right to decide for itself which treaties it does or doesn't belong to.

Even then, more like begging than flirting; the invasion made it much more likely. Likewise EU membership.