I think your reasoning is too simplistic, it's about two agreements that are self contradicting. At least for Ukraine - they had an economic alliance with Russ

I think your reasoning is too simplistic, it's about two agreements that are self contradicting. At least for Ukraine - they had an economic alliance with Russia, they wanted to have another economic deal with the EU which in turn would put Russia and the Eastern population at the loss, then the whole shitstorm broke loose. To cite Nuland - "Fuck the EU" - was exactly how the people in Donbass and Crimea felt. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957