I agree that at least part of Putin’s unpopular “go slow” approach and “stroking” the West has to do with a very long game to protect R’s western border. A wise visionary will suspect that as China’s power and influence grows they will restart their irredentist claims to Mongolia and large parts of southern Siberia—in other words, the marriage will only last so long, and when divorce comes having a nice, soft European “pillow” in the west will be a comfort.
Putin sees value as such to keep the channel open to Americans. This may be of use at some point of the process that the world is going trough. It is his long term perspective that time of friendly co-operation after the current painful transformation will come.
I agree that at least part of Putin’s unpopular “go slow” approach and “stroking” the West has to do with a very long game to protect R’s western border. A wise visionary will suspect that as China’s power and influence grows they will restart their irredentist claims to Mongolia and large parts of southern Siberia—in other words, the marriage will only last so long, and when divorce comes having a nice, soft European “pillow” in the west will be a comfort.
Putin sees value as such to keep the channel open to Americans. This may be of use at some point of the process that the world is going trough. It is his long term perspective that time of friendly co-operation after the current painful transformation will come.