Do the Russians believe it is their God-given right to be annoying bastards?
Biden’s offer is clear: if Russia refrains from troublemaking and plays by international rules, the US is ready to develop stable relations (Riddle, May 5). This proposition was elaborated at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in London last week (May 3–5), where Russia was a major theme for discussions. Notably, the seven participating powers decided to soften their final resolution from wording about deterring multiple threats to expressing a preference for reducing tensions (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 5). The problem for the Kremlin with this invitation to refrain from military threats, cyberattacks and other international security transgressions is that Russia’s role in European affairs would then shrink to irrelevance, instead of desired dominance over its recognized domain (see EDM, May 6). Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov forcefully rejected the plan to make Russia abide by Western rules, decrying it as a malicious attempt to exercise “totalitarianism” in world affairs (Kommersant, May 7).
Russia doesn't want to be nice in Europe because reasons, according to the Russians. It's Russia's freedom of expression to kill Georgians, Ukrainians, and anybody else who catches Putin's eye!
I think the Russian problem in Europe flows from Russia's policy of appeasement toward China. This is to keep China from vigorously enforcing its claim to huge swathes of land in the Far East that Russia took from a weak China in the 19th century.
To hide that appeasement, Russia is loud and hostile to NATO, which is not a military threat to Russia. See? We're tough! Don't even bring up the possibility that we might cower in the face of threats!
And Russia extended their planned appeasement for five more years.
Russia probably didn't think its threats would lead post-Cold War NATO to sanction and oppose Russia enough to slow down Russia's ability to stand up to China and actually defend the Far East.
Also, Russia has a strange psychological need for attention.
#WhyRussiaCan'tHaveNiceThings
