If an adult persuaded a child to stick their finger in a mousetrap, the resulting injury wouldn’t be entirely owed to said mousetrap.
Like it or not, Putin did exactly what he said he would do should Ukraine (or any other border adjacent country), attempt to join NATO. What changed is that our sitting President encouraged Ukraine’s to go for it, where past presidents discouraged poking the bear.
Your argument is supporting the equivalent of telling a physically abused person: "if you call the cops, I will beat you more. Why are you making me hurt you?"
Yes, terrorists can do exactly what they said to their victims, unless their demands are met. This doesn't make them "children persuaded to hurt themselves".
Daily reminder that not only Americans have agency in this world. Even Putin had agency to not start the war. And Ukrainians have agency to pursue whatever means available to free themselves from Russian influence.
Like it or not, Putin did exactly what he said he would do should Ukraine (or any other border adjacent country), attempt to join NATO. What changed is that our sitting President encouraged Ukraine’s to go for it, where past presidents discouraged poking the bear.