Russia screwed this up big time. In the 90s and 2000s they were invited to all the clubs, all the associations. Russia could have been the provider of security guarantees in the region and had her stupid buffer zone if she played her cards well. She did not. She chose to be an aggressor. Hence the Americans slowly turned their back on her. Russia could have stayed in the US system, played second fiddle to the Americans but it would still be way above what they have now and what they will have for the next 50-100 years.
You do spew a huge deal of garbage. So much of contained in just this one post.
In the 1990's (after so called '
shock capitalism') Russia was bankrupt and having it's natural assets - oil, gas, aluminium etc looted.
It's entire economy was in the hands of about 12 Western financed oligarchs. About 40% of ordinary Russians were living below the poverty line.
NATO had already begun its march eastwards - in contravention of promises made to Gorbachev that it wouldn't.
The president (Yeltsin) was an incompetent drunk who the Clinton Administration helped rig elections to have re-elected (since he was such a doormat for exploitative American policies with regards to Russia).
Along came Putin at the dawn of the millenium and put an end to the American backed looting. The Russian economy performed many times better in all respects, but the Americans were now butthurt that they couldn't continue stealing.
There is loads more to add, like CIA financing of terrorism in Dagestan in the 2000's, US sponsorship of anti-Russian 'colour revolutions' in Georgia and Ukraine.
The nonsense you spew that Russia was an 'aggressor' in the 90's and 2000's is typical of you, and no informed person will believe it.
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