But that was before Soviet collapsed and many of it's neighboring countries occupied by Soviet Union had no saying.
And after the collapse the reborn Russia joined Partnership for Peace in 1994 that is a NATO program.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partnership_for_Peace
However Russia left that in 2014.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_50090.htm
Still Russia are threatening non NATO members like Sweden and Finland.

If they join NATO or just anyway?

And doing military campaigns in both Ukraine and Georgia.

Regretfully, my knowledge on Georgia isn't that up-to-date which will need a lot of fixing I suspect - but the mess in the Ukraine, in my opinion, is something both the EU and Nato had a great big fat finger in, if not a whole hand each.

But it's certainly a mess.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone watched any of the Oliver Stone - Putin interviews? I know they received a lot of criticism from the usual quarters - but there was some praise too. I've yet to see them, but I'd like to.

It's interesting, how much time they will need before understanding the Russia don't want territories of her neighbors?

Are you saying Russia never wanted territories of her neighbors? Or just right now and for the next ten minutes?

USA wanted territories of her neighbors, at past. Russia too wanted territories of her neighbors, at past. Now Russia want safety on her borders, like the USA. For example, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, they have no problems on the borders with Russia, because they don't want be unfriendly with Russia. It is clear.
Is it impossible to understand for you?

Is it impossible to understand for you?

Do you understand that both Russia and the U.S. have a terrible lot to answer for in this day and age?

Both have contributed greatly to the instability in our present world because of their own self imposed paranoia. :-(

Still Russia are threatening non NATO members like Sweden and Finland.

If they join NATO or just anyway?

Russia doesn't want us to join NATO. And therefore having a lot of unannounced military drills very close to our borders to show their might. And also verbally threats like "We got nukes". And of course plenty of cyberattacks.
Because of that the propability for us to join NATO increases. The oppposite of what Russia want...
But Sweden cannot afford to join NATO anyway so I don't understand what Russia is so afraid of.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone watched any of the Oliver Stone - Putin interviews? I know they received a lot of criticism from the usual quarters - but there was some praise too. I've yet to see them, but I'd like to.

I have.
Oliver Stone, most of the time does not make any real interviews.
Stone's purpose in the friendly talks is to guide Putin to create the image of a kind hearted Russia ruled by a wise and peace-loving president.
It's even so that Putin sometimes object when Stone gets too ingratiating. And when Putin using the narrative of what the Russian propaganda apparatus calls "the coup of Ukraine", and Stone obviously agrees, it gets quite embarrasing.
Then also Putin pulls out a smartphone and shows Stone what he says are Russian forces fighting ISIS in Syria. The only problem? The footage actually shows Americans fighting against Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2009.
https://gizmodo.com/video-that-putin-shows-oliver-stone-of-russians-fightin-1796257586

Now Russia want safety on her borders, like the USA. For example, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, they have no problems on the borders with Russia, because they don't want be unfriendly with Russia. It is clear.

It's apparently not clear to Belarusian President Lukashenko.
https://warsawinstitute.org/kremlins-pressure-lukashenko-fsb-officer-russias-new-ambassador/

Russia’s new ambassador to Moscow used to serve in both the KGB and the FSB. Previously, he had been nominated to hold a diplomatic position in particularly sensitive regions. Such designation suggests that the Kremlin may tighten its policies towards Belarus. And special attention is paid to the recent commentaries of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko who indicated that Russia posed more serious threat to his country.
There is no doubt that Lukashenko will have to face much harder policy led by Moscow. He might have heard something about it from Putin at their meeting on June 19 because three days later, during a visit to Mogilev Region, the president warned local officials. “If something has been planned, it needs to be put into practice”, he said. “Only death can be treated as justification as we are on the frontline. If we do not survive these years, we lose, it will mean that we will be force to be incorporated into another state or they will simply wipe their legs about us. Or, far it be from us, they will start a war as they have done it in Ukraine”, Lukashenko claimed

The Washington Times: China's Ukrainian jet engines

The official China Daily newspaper conveniently omitted in its report on the first 12 JL-10s that the trainer is powered by Ukrainian jet engines. The supersonic trainer is also known as the L-15.
The deal for trainer engines was concluded in 2016 with Ukraine’s Motor Sich company in Zaporizhzhya when the first 20 engines were supplied. The $380 million deal calls for a total of 250 engines for the trainers.
China remains a major arms buyer from Ukraine. In addition to JL-15 engines, recent Ukraine-China arms transfers have included some 50 diesel engines for tanks, and gas turbines for Luyang-2 and Luyang-3 guided missile destroyers.
Disclosure of the new Ukrainian-powered carrier training jet comes a month after the Pentagon announced the supply of $200 million in military assistance to Ukraine’s military.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/15/inside-the-ring-chinas-ukranian-jet-engines/

Ukraine is very keen to join EU.
Doesn't Ukraine know that the EU has an embargo on arms to China?
Now engines is perhaps not arms but figher jets do need special engines that meet military requirements.
But perhaps EU can export arms in pieces to China...

And As China continues to modernize their ICBM fleet, it begs the question: how much help is Ukraine providing, willingly and unwillingly?
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/do-chinas-nuclear-missiles-have-ukrainian-dna-26393

Chinese poaching of Ukrainian aerospace, tank and naval engineers is also a common phenomenon.
In the fall of 2017, Ukraine’s Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, based in Dnipro, was accused of providing rocket engines to North Korea. While Ukrainian media has denied this allegation, there was a definite case of Yushnoye employees who were caught selling the plans on the RS-20 (SS-18 “Satan”) to Chinese missile engineers. Although the Chinese engineers were caught by Ukrainian police, Chinese diplomatic influence resulted in the charges being cleared.

Oh. Sweden has found a loophole exporting military drones to China.
https://www.svd.se/isp-vagrar-svara-om-vapenexport-till-kina

National foreign and security policy aspects and the risk that the products end up with another, that is why Cybaero repeatedly was refused export to China from the ISP Inspectorate for Strategic Products.
Cybaero, however, got green light from the authority when a new intermediary appeared, Jolly Hong Kong Limited and the end-customer Chinese customs.
"It's far from waterproof walls in China, if the Chinese military needs a system that the Chinese customs bought in, they'll fix it. It is more or less pronounced, there is no doubt about that, says Jerker Hellström, research director, FOI.

Russia condemns the murder of Alexander Zahartjenko, who was "prime minister" of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk.
The 42-year-old Zahartjenko was killed yesterday in a bomb attack in a Donetsk café. His bodyguard was also killed while 12 people were injured.
Ukraine says that Zachartjenko was murdered by its own. Russia says he was murdered by Ukraine. A third theory is that Zachartjenko was murdered by the Russian intelligence service FSB ...
Zachartjenko is the fourth separatist leader in Ukraine who ends his career in a violent death. Before that, Aleksej Mozgovoj was shot dead in 2015, Arsenij Pavlov ("Motorola") was killed by a bomb 2016 and Michail Tolstych ("Givi") died in a shooting in 2017.

And russian FM Lavrov says Normandy Four talks "impossible" following Zakharchenko murder.
Lavrov called the assassination of the leader of the "DPR" terrorist organization, Alexander Zakharchenko, "a frank provocation" aimed at frustrating the implementation of Minsk agreements.
https://www.unian.info/politics/10245411-lavrov-says-normandy-four-talks-impossible-following-zakharchenko-killing.html

Wales' leading touring brass ensemble, Symphonic Brass Wales visited Crimea.

Info from their site:
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Our ensemble's visit follows on from a number of previous tours to the region by additional international performing groups this year, which have included groups from Italy and New Zealand in March, and indeed the famed New Orleans style "Rebirth Brass Band" from the USA were also performing at a jazz festival in Koktebel, Crimea during the same period as our own visit.

Our group enjoyed an excellent visit to the region. The climate and atmosphere were not what as we had anticipated either might be, and whereas we may have perhaps envisaged a considerable police or military presence, we saw neither. In actual fact, Crimea appeared a busy summer tourist region.

​For us, it was a true joy to experience the rich culture and history of the area, and to meet the local people there, many of whom we will be maintaining contact and ongoing friendships with.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.symphonicbrasswales.com/news.html

Deutsche Welle: Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects to Ukrainian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko in the rebel-stronghold of Donetsk on Friday.

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-separatists-mourn-donetsk-leader-zakharchenko/a-45324994

Russia's state TV broadcasts Putin's promise to the inhabitants of Donbass.

Yes. Russian bears always like to do you disservices.
Медвежья услуга!
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B6%D1%8C%D1%8F_%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B0

Zakharchenko's successor "Signor Tomato" as Putin's new puppet in Donbas was shortlived.
Another reshuffle in occupied Donbas as Denis Pushilin appointed acting "DPR" head
https://www.unian.info/politics/10252485-another-reshuffle-in-occupied-donbas-as-denis-pushilin-appointed-acting-dpr-head.html
Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Revenue and Duties of the Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Timofeev, who was wounded during the assassination on Zakharchenko, left Donetsk and went to Russia together with Zakharchenko's adviser Alexander Kazakov .
http://dnr-news.com/dnr/46902-ministr-dohodov-i-sborov-dnr-aleksandr-timofeev-vyehal-v-rossiyu.html

Serial numbers of missile that downed MH17 show it was produced in 1986, owned by Ukraine - Russia
https://www.rt.com/news/438596-mh17-downing-russian-briefing/
Wait a minute. Why was the missile transported FROM Russia into Donbass only a few days before the atrocity and then the transporter left Donbass with a BUK missile missing back to Russia?
And why did it took more then 4 years for Russia to draw their conclusions?

Ukrainian President Poroshenko has signed a decree to terminate the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
https://www.unian.info/politics/10263444-poroshenko-signs-decree-on-nsdc-s-decision-to-terminate-treaty-of-friendship-with-russia.html

P.S. He constantly declare that they at war, more than 4 years already... And he terminate the treaty only now. Well, it's strange.

Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
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...Ukraine has been in a state of continuous legal infringement for the past one and a half years. They are violating fundamental international laws by systematically stripping the minorities living there of their previously acquired rights. The Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia is also one of the casualties of this policy: during the past eighteen months we have seen the beginning of a policy of the state-organised drumming up anti-Hungarian sentiment.
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http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/if-ukraine-expels-the-hungarian-consul-in-berehove-hungary-will-also-expel-a-consul

Hungary?
You should know that the EU are about to enacte EU article 7 because of how Hungary have become lately.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_7_of_the_Treaty_on_European_Union
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-eu-news-article-7-vote-poland-rule-of-law/
Yes. Poland as well.
Viktor Orbán is very right wing.
Immigration-critical and nationalist.
Accused of controlling the media.
And the judiciary.
And civil society.
Criticized to put down democracy.
As for Transcarpathia https://www.unian.info/politics/10210796-ukraine-wants-hungary-to-explain-decision-on-minister-for-transcarpathia.html

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has strongly protested against Hungary's decision to create the post of an authorized minister responsible for the development of Transcarpathia and develop kindergartens in the Carpathian basin.
In particular, the Ukrainian side stresses that latest statements by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Ukraine's European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations are unacceptable as they significantly deviate from the policy of the European Union and largely resemble an aggressor country's approaches.

Oops...
A section of the Kerch railway bridge plunged into the water as it was being put in place on Oct. 4, halting work on the illegal link between Russia and Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea.
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/accident-hits-kerch-bridge-between-russia-and-ukraines-crimea.html?cn-reloaded=1

A delegation from Norway headed by the chairman of the public organization “Norwegian People’s Diplomacy” Hendrik Weber arrived to the Republic of Crimea on a five-day visit, organised for nine people representing intellectual professions and various political parties.
https://europediplomatic.com/2018/09/30/norway-delegation-visits-crimean-parliament/

BBC News Ukraine -
The Ukrainian army is running out.
Failure to comply with the terms of the contract, the arbitrariness of the commanders and even beatings and extortions - what the contracters who discharged from the Ukrainian army are complaining.
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=uk&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fukrainian%2Ffeatures-45739005

A delegation from Norway headed by the chairman of the public organization “Norwegian People’s Diplomacy” Hendrik Weber arrived to the Republic of Crimea on a five-day visit, organised for nine people representing intellectual professions and various political parties.
https://europediplomatic.com/2018/09/30/norway-delegation-visits-crimean-parliament/

Norwegian Delegation to Start 6-Day Visit to Russia's Crimea on Sunday
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201809301068460638-norwegian-visit-crimea/
Yuri Gempel, the head of the Crimean parliament's committee on international relations

"The delegation from Norway arrives in Crimea on Sunday morning. We have close business ties with the Norwegians in the framework of the public diplomacy project. This visit is important as we are breaking the information blockade in Norway. The delegation includes practically representatives of all parties that exist in Norway. They are not just citizens, they are public figures, including members of various parties,"

That's not true! They don't represent any Norwegian party.
Calling it "A delegation from Norway" is very misleading since they are not politicians or diplomats, only activists.

“Norwegian People’s Diplomacy” and Hendrik Weber was also in Crimea last year. And to Donbas.
https://www.tv2.no/a/9335968/

A group of Norwegian activists from the Norwegian People’s Diplomacy is on its way to the annexed Crimean peninsula. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very critical.
They believes it is both dangerous and morally wrong by Norwegians to travel to such a place.
"We are critical of this type of visit because it can help legitimize the annexation," states the Secretary of State for TV 2.
At the Ukrainian Embassy in Norway, they are also strongly critical of the trip. People who wish to travel to the Crimea must have explicit permission from the authorities in Kiev. If not, they risk being charged with a violation and lack of respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, which has a five-year criminal penalty, TV 2 is told.

http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1521166191

Most is known about the supposed ‘Norwegian delegation’ which consists of the head of the NGO Folkdiplomati Norge Hendrik Weber and Mette Rosenlund.
Weber is reported as saying that “we are the only ones, outside the OSCE, who are allowed in Crimea”. Judging by his general comments, his previous illegal visit via Russia to occupied Crimea and his reported plans to also visit the Kremlin-backed, armed and financed militants in the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’, his approval of the ‘elections’ seems a foregone conclusion.