Russia/Ukraine tensions - Any concern?

Steve, but this is what the empires do. Fortunately for the USA, they only has three... large enough countries on their continent. I understand the property issues, the unpaid debts and so on - but still why did the USA try to topple down the Cuban power, why did the USA mutually hate Venezuela? The Cuban and Venezuela people decided so - why some foreign force decides for them? Because the USA is the empire and can't bear any potential enemies on its borders. The USA is surrounded by Canada, Mexico and the oceans, mostly. Russia has been invaded numerous times in its history, it is surrounded by lots of different countries. They act like that. I don't like the idea, at all. There's nothing pleasant in being "liberated" or "protected" when I've never asked for liberation or protection. Russia is doing a very big mistake. But! You all have to understand that, rightly or wrongly, NATO is seen in Russia as an enemy, as an aggressive military alliance which can shift from defensive to offensive in a few hours... Russia is one of the last empires in the world. Empires act like that. It is not pleasant for me but I try to be objective. 

I have had some conversations with some Central Europeans, particularly Slovaks. They were happy to join the EU and NATO because they were told at the time that everybody would be as prosperous as the German people, and other stuff. In result, as my Slovak friend told me their country's bosses indeed bought themselves "luxury cars, luxury laptops, luxury handwatches" - and the ordinary Slovaks like her, have to work abroad, in her case in Ireland, to survive... Her colleagues at the Irish hotel are a Polish girl and a Latvian girl - those proud Poles and Balts who no longer bow to Russia... Instead they must bow to any visitor at an Irish hotel, including Russians... So, you know, all those talks that every country may join any military defensive alliance or any trade organisation just because everybody's equal... What's the use for a certain country and what's the use for the whole organisation? - this must be the first question, especially if it concerns military alliances. Were there any indicators that Russia somehow threatened Poland or Czech Republic or Hungary in March 1999? Tell me of those indicators, anyone, would you please! Russia was poor, ruined, its army was ruined as well. Russia was ruled by a more or less democrate Boris Yeltsin. What were the reasons to include three formerly Soviet-controlled countries in the anti-Soviet military bloc? Just anticipations that some day Russia would return to its old habits? Then why aren't people of the former colonies of the British Empire afraid that one day the UK returns to its old habits? Maybe, because times are changing. What was suitable in Stalin era, was not suitable in Brezhnev one. 

I do not justify any sort of criminal behaviour. But I also know that a criminal shall not blame other criminals. It's God who judges and saints who may blame. I see no saints in this situation!