Russia, even in its current state, is still a major geopolitical rival and influence in the global economy. African nations like Sudan are not. We can supply aid to them, or at least we could before the MAGAs decided useful sources of soft power were evil communist demonic entities.
Russia can cry and stomp its feet all it wants. Finland got in NATO all the same, and Ukraine should be allowed in too. "Provoking" Russia is a farce. It's like asking "well what was she wearing that night?" At the end of the day, we cannot allow Russia any more land. We must set a precedent that the world will not allow despots like Putin to invade. We must stare Xi in the eye and tell him "hands off Taiwan."