People have completely forgotten how close Russia was to joining NATO and Western Europe back in 1999. Putin wanted in, but when told Russia had to apply for membership, said they weren’t going to stand in line with a bunch of smaller countries.
When Yeltsin signed the NATO Russia Founding Act, the foundation had been laid, and when Putin took over in 2001, he expressed these desires openly. What changed his mind is what matters. I seem to recall that when we invaded Iraq, things changed.
Former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, who had a cordial relationship with the Russian leader, recalls an era when Moscow wanted closer ties with the West.