I mean it is mostly is and would like to hear why it's not true for you.

The case that Ukraine is mostly a pawn is that it gets major military and economic support from NATO/US https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-pledges-further-major-military-economic-aid-ukraine-2024-01-10/ gets information support from NATO [the public/media discourse is heavy pro ukraine; ranging from bbc, dw, france24, nyt, wsj, reuters, etc. ] NATO is picking ukraines leaders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV9J6sxCs5k NATO is telling Ukraine what to do by coercing not to negotiate for peace https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/5/7344206/ While the US knew the consequences of NATO expension https://youtu.be/E3tdF2S04wg?si=cmjik9lRDryxHHEB&t=1312 [love that timestamp]