The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that NATO expansion into Eastern Europe provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This justification alleges that NATO disregarded Russia's security concerns and broke prior agreements. However, this narrative is contested. Critics argue that sovereign nations have the right to choose their own alliances, and that Russia's aggression is driven by imperial ambitions rather than legitimate security threats. The claim that NATO expansion is solely responsible for the conflict is a simplification of a complex geopolitical situation with deep historical roots.