Wow, John Mearsheimer is now a Russian propagandist? You can disagree, but you may want to listen to one of your best thinkers in international politics.
How can someone be proven so wrong about their life's work and still be called "one of your best thinkers in international politics."?
https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Why-t...
Putin's argument that Nato was a threat is just a distraction. There's nothing Nato could do if Ukraine joined Nato that Nato couldn't already do without Ukraine.
Mearsheimer's argument that Russia should be left alone to violate the sovereignty of her neighbours is just bonkers. Thank goodness he was ignored.
The article you linked was written after Russia had already invaded and annexed part of Ukraine, so it's not a very impressive prediction.