I don't think he is apologist in sense that he is justifying Russia's actions, but his point is that Russia is too large force for Ukraine to fight without receiving devastating damage, and in his view Ukraine should've considered negotiating peace deal and give up some territories.
No his point, that Russian fears of NATO is legitimate, is bollocks. He seems to see everywhere American Imperialism, and think in this frame.
Russian government did not give a damn about NATO expansion, it is a mafia with no ideology. They would have invaded anyway, under some other false pretense.
Keep in mind that Chomsky denied genocide made Khmer Rouge in 1970 and genocide in Srebrenica, _just_ _because_ _perpetrators_ _seemed _to_be_ against US imperialism.
