This viewpoint is simplistic to the point of absurdity.
> The only thing the US is responsible for is that they could have maybe threatened Russia enough to not invade.
as if that wasnt a factor (by proxy via NATO) initiating Russian aggression.
This is basically the "she wore a short dress" defense...
The only country that initiated Russian aggression is Russia.
I'm not sure why you characterize the assertion as a "defense". It's a reason.
People do things for reasons. Everyone makes choices based on how they perceive the world and predict the future from there. To flatly ignore circumstance is not constructive.
Just like wearing a short dress is a "reason" rapists claim to rape.
Russia is raping and killing for reasons. But those reasons are shit and Ukraine doesn't deserve what's happening to them.