After disputing vocal NATO-related promises western politicians forever lost possibilities to solve anything by a "gentrleman..
Gorbachev stated in a 2014 interview with Russia Behind the Headlines that the topic of broader NATO expansion was never discussed during the 1990 negotiations for German reunification.
Baker didn't even had authority to make such promises in behalf of NATO, even if such promises where given. Are as reliable as I promising to give a unicorn to you.
Poland said that if not accepted into NATO, would get nukes and no one in Russia objected to Poland joining NATO at that time.
There was literally ZERO NATO military presence in nato Eastern Flank till Putin invaded Ukraine in 2014 and this countries requested troops triggering article 4.
If Putin just had left Ukraine alone, no one in Ukraine would want to join NATO or get Nukes. Hell, the NATO exist because Russians refused to deoccupy half of Europe. NATO would be dead without Putin imperialism.