Repeating that none of this would happen if NATO did not expand is Putin's propaganda, that you help him spread. The reality is reverse: this would be happening to more countries if NATO did not expand. The only reason Putin is not threatening Balkans is NATO. Without NATO they would all fall prey to Russia.

And no this is not the same as Iraq. Iraq was an autocratic country, that attacked its neighbors repeatedly, and had weapons of mass destruction. Ukraine is none of that.