That's interesting:
As Moscow is erratically searching for its place in the emergent multipolar world, in which it will unlikely become a pole, it is falling into a trap, the name of which is Beijing. In the course of its conflict with the West, which deepened after the annexation of Crimea, Russia has moved closer to China, in which it sees not only a significant trade partner but also a potential ally in its struggle against the West. But it is true that Moscow remains wary of Beijing. Some in Russia still entertain a hope that the country will become one of the poles and are uncomfortable of becoming a “little sister” to the Chinese “big brother”. In his insightful article on the Russian-Chinese relations, Bruno Maçães, Portugal’s former Secretary of State for European Affairs, argued: “Russia wants to be an independent pole in the new global order. But being an independent pole in close association with China is simply not possible, given the assmmetry in economic power and size. Ergo Russia will be forced to keep some distance from its eastern neighbor”.
Putin is effing up royally. Face it, the Fuck-Up Fairy is an ethnic Russian that Putin brought home to Holy Mother Russia.
Just stop talking about how Putin is expertly playing a poor hand. He should join the West so European Russia is a safe rear area with China as their front, as Russia could have after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
But can the European Union really entice Russia into the West? Only by ejecting America from Europe and killing NATO could Russia ever feel safe from a non-existent military threat from modern Europe.
And I imagine once America is gone, the Russians will start claiming only America held Europe at bay with its long history of invading Russia. Those dastardly Europeans tricked us into supporting the removal of those decent Americans! The Russians are that good at paranoia.
Russia should be wary of China. But why should the West entice Russia when Russia needs the West (including America) more than the West needs Russia? I'll move past the EUtopian hopes expressed by the author in that initial article for all the great things a friendly and integrated Russia will make possible for Europe. It's just a bigger pile of BS to embrace after the ever-expanding EU has failed to provide that Heaven on Earth already.
People, Russia isn't going to provide all that winning that the EU types seem to hope for.
I don't really think China sent Putin as a plot against Russia. But the stupidity in Moscow is just mind boggling. Good Lord, could any foreign plot have harmed Russia more than Putin has?
