> Why would anybody want to be the enemy of the global superpower?

For the same reason that despots around the world "hate the west." [0] Because it takes the domestic population's eyes off of all the domestic issues such as rampant corruption and curtailment of basic freedoms.

[0] See: Iran & North Korea who non-coincidentally are both supplying Russia with arms which are used to kill Ukrainian grandparents and children living peacefully in their villages and cities.

"Why would anybody want to be the enemy of the global superpower?"

In the case of both the Balkan wars and the invasion of Ukraine, it was because staying friends with the global superpower meant that one wouldn’t get control of the lands one claimed.

They have though. They showed they don't care about borders and that if they're successful in Ukraine then they will just keep trying in the next nation over. Tyrants are never happy and always need more to conquer and to control. You can't just let them roll over other countries because they're a "super power" because evidently they aren't since Ukraine with help from the west is at least keeping them at bay.

Lithium mines in the Donbas region, perhaps?

Because Russian boomers and nationalists are hellbent on territorial irredentism to the detriment of Ukraine, the Baltic countries, and according to some of their "Greater Russia" maps even Finland.

Dictators like Putin don't rule by normal logic.

In this case it's imperialism:

- Donbas: rich on natural resources

- Crimea: large amount of gas was found in 2008. Project by shell was ready in late 2013.

They invaded in 2014.

Why would any sane person want to be an enemy of the West?

West decided to start genocide against Ukranians? Or was it Russia?