What are they supposed to do, really? They already have NATO on their doorstep and they’re currently fighting a war…

NATO was standing there MENACINGLY

You know Russia could have joined, right?

Actually no, NATO was founded because of the threat Russia poses, there’s no way they would have been let in.
What if they stopped posing a threat? Elect someone who’s not a murderer, stop killing opposition leaders, build trade relations with Europe, stop undermining EU governments, help NATO oppose China. Would they be allowed to join then?