Invaded, maybe not. Regime-changed? Most definitely. We've sponsored dictatorial coups against democratically elected socialists and communist governments, assassinations, etc. Arguing that the US respects democracy would be quite a joke. I would also argue that "representative democracy" is no different than any other oligarchy, and the small amount of direct democracy and political power afforded to the average US citizen isn't all that much more than anywhere else in the world.

How puzzling, then, that the Ukrainians are so desperate to hang onto their “small amount of power”, and seem to see a large difference between that and being subject to a tyrant. Ditto the Belarusians.

I doubt Ukrainians had much or any direct democracy in their system. I'm not sure what you're supposed to be saying here?

I’m saying that they see a huge difference between Ukraine’s imperfect democracy and Russian dictatorship, and the fact that the former doesn’t conform to your theoretical, ideal democracy is just irrelevant.

Nice strawman. Care to attack the argument I was actually making, which had nothing to do with emotional appeals about Ukrainian sovereignty?