But trusting Russia with stewardship of nuclear weapons, all the while knowing its deplorable record with regards to its neighbors? That was a colossal geopolitical mistake, and the consequences were predictable.

And I would posit that the aim of limiting countries with nuclear weapons is simplistic. If a nuclear power decides to terrorize a non-nuclear, but industrially advanced neighbor, the victim is likely to acquire a nuclear capability, one way or another, either now or in the future. It hasn't happened yet with Ukraine, but I believe it is inevitable.

Furthermore, that nuclear capability will come with a (justified) grudge. I would certainly want to vaporize my bully.

The end result is that the probability of nuclear conflict has increased, not decreased.