After an initial knee jerk reaction, I think you had a realistic and mature assessment, so thanks for that.

Putin was looking for any excuse.  
EU militarily unprepared and economically divided about Russia.
Poland and Baltics were steadily arming themselves.
NATO caught on their heels, at least politically.
US population’s overall national interest turned inward regardless of various factions vying for certain outcomes that were certainly willing to meddle.