Trojan Horse or sacrificial lamb?

"NATO on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes, wary of being dragged into Moscow's war on its neighbor, but Europe promised  more sanctions to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin," Reuters.  "The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukraine's airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes," said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. "If we did that, we'll end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe, involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering." NDTV. Why then did NATO egg Ukraine on? "Since NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016, NATO's practical support for Ukraine is set out in the Comprehensive Assistance package (CAP) for Ukraine," NATO. What do "practical support" and "Comprehensive Assistance" mean? "Putin has been clear for many years that if continued, the (NATO) expansion would likely be met with serious resistance by the Russians, even with military action," The Conversation. Why then, "In September 2020, President Volodymyr Zelensky approved Ukraine's New National Security Strategy, which provides for the distinctive partnership with NATO with the aim of membership in NATO." Is Ukraine being used as a Trojan Horse to completely destroy Russia's economy through savage sanctions, its government and its people for ever? It's not just Ukraine and Russia that are suffering. "African economists sound the alarm over a looming and likely catastrophic lowering of trade volumes between the continent and its warring partners if Russia's widely condemned incursion into Ukraine isn't short-lived," CNN. "Parts of Africa could be plunged into hunger in as fast three months if Russia's invasion of Ukraine lingers, says Wandile Sihlobo." "Wheat prices are at their highest since the global food crisis in 2008, and look as though they will exceed that level this week," ET. Other countries are restricting wheat exports which will increase shortage. In 2003, "to find non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Iraq was invaded by a US-UK led force. More than 80,000 civilians were injured and over 200,000 killed in 'direct war related' violence, revealed a study by Brown University. If the political and military leaders of the participant nations are charged with war crimes, it would perhaps support the humanitarian case for prosecuting Putin and his military brass," wrote Thomas Mathew. In 2013, "Russia has promised to reduce the price of natural gas exports to Ukraine by a third and lend it $15 billion," VOA. That's because "the IMF halted its lending in late 2010 because of Ukraine's failure to meet the conditions, including the absence of any reform of the gas sector." osw. The IMF wanted the price of gas to increase by 50% which the government refused because of elections. "Is NATO membership so paramount for Kyiv even to the tune of Ukraine's existence? NATO troops not putting their boots on ground against Moscow is enough evidence that Ukraine simply became a geopolitical scapegoat with huge human and material cost," wrote Profs Pradhan and Pattnaik. Ukraine maybe a sacrificial lamb for the US and NATO, but why is Zelensky cooperating? Does he think the price is worth paying?