For the Chinese, the Japanese occupied Korea first and then invaded China. The Manchu also invaded the Ming Dynasty from the northeast. Therefore, in the Chinese people's understanding, after the invasion of Korea, it is inevitable to invade China. Instead of fighting on Chinese soil, it is better to fight on Korean soil.
For the Russians, the Germans in WW2 occupied Ukraine first, then attacked Grodno and Brest Fortress in Belarus from West Ukraine all the way, and attacked Kharkov in East Ukraine all the way. So Russians also regard Ukraine as the red line of war. In 2014, when the western countries overthrew Yanukovych's government through a coup, this war was inevitable.
Wrong the first German strikes and significant gains were into Belarus
I wouldn't bother denying if I were you.
you built post-war Europe with Marshall Plan, if you want to "cash in" on Germany, then Germany is yours to take --they owe you that much.
there is no shame in admitting that.
Germany is an independent country. She is a member of NATO and EU. With that comes responsibilities. Germany was told not to depend on Russian natural gas in the past. They took a gamble. Who knew Putin would start a stupid war ?
If Putin was such a benign creature he could supply natural gas to Germany at pre-war levels. Does anything stops him ?