> while this was not a formal treaty signed on paper

So you already know there was no such agreement or promise, and still try claim it as such. You know there's a good reason all the HN discussions in this topic get locked down -- they get immediately targeted by disinformation and indefensible Russian imperialist ideology.

> Please don't attack or misrepresent my character or intent.

I hope you can acknowledge that I'm not attacking you. I don't know you, so I can't know about your intents. The outcome, however, is that you end up repeating Russian propaganda and lies, and that's why you get downvoted.