The US absolutely didn't instigate this war, Ukraine has been turned down by NATO and the I think The Netherlands held a referendum against them joining the EU. In the Cuban missile crisis Russia tried to place MRBMs in Cuba. No such move has been made here, nor was it on the cards even. Russia let its paranoia run away it and has put itself in a much worse situation than it would ever have been in by doing nothing. He has earned a raft of economic sanctions larger than even Saddam Hussein managed, he has healed all divisions between between the US, UK and EU single-handed and there is growing support for joining NATO in Sweden and geographically more problematic (for Russia) Finland as a result of this move. What's his next move? Invade the EU to prevent this?
Public opinion studies suggest there is growing support in Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
learningenglish.voanews.com
He's acted in such a way that has caused other moves to be made, leaving his only remaining moves as either back down and suffer the consequences or actually start WWIII.