What is the case at the moment is a geopolitical struggle over limited area of landmass, for a limited amount of resources and control over a limited number of people.
The Cold War is over, hon. Russia has to contend not only with the United States, but Germany/the EU, China, and Saudi Arabia. Competing for limited resources, people, and land is what many other countries do.
We are very much in contest with Putin
We are with the EU too. They aren't as friendly with the US as they used to be. It's not even all Trump. After Obama spying on Merkel's phone calls, I can see how they'd want to be free of American dominance. Also, in the EU France and Germany tend to vie for leadership. Both countries have "personal" reasons to lead the EU so they compete.
For instance Russia's main export, natural gas and oil, are surely at odds with inconvenient scientific consensus regarding climate change.
The preceding sentence talks about Putin being a vicious competitor. How is this an example? Saudi Arabia, an American ally is also a main exporter of oil. Saudi Arabia also has more influence on our foreign policy decisions than Russia. Also, exporting fossil fuels happens because there is demand. The EU and China are very much in demand of these resources.
There is no appeasing that situation in a way that benefits all parties in the short term
Is the long-term irrelevant? You did say Putin is a strategic enemy. I imagine weighing the odds of a long-term relationship with China or the US is rather critical to Russia's future.
>The Cold War is over, hon.
Who said so? If the fighting of poxy wars in the middle-east and eastern-Ukraine are anything to go by, the cold war is very much alive and kicking.
> Is the long-term irrelevant?
Presumably in the long term, Putin will still be in power having extended the presidential term to infinity plus one years.
> I imagine weighing the odds of a long-term relationship with China or the US is rather critical to Russia's future.
I imagine China's rampant authoritarianism and complete ownership of press is more than slightly preferable to a poorly veiled dictator like Putin.
If the fighting of poxy wars in the middle-east and eastern-Ukraine are anything to go by, the cold war is very much alive and kicking.
The Middle Eastern proxy wars have more to do with having Israel and Saudi Arabia as allies.
Presumably in the long term, Putin will still be in power having extended the presidential term to infinity plus one years.
Perhaps he will. What's going on with the Russian government is still less clear than Xi unambiguously becoming president for life.
I imagine China's rampant authoritarianism and complete ownership of press is more than slightly preferable to a poorly veiled dictator like Putin.
Yes, because Russia is a weaker nation that poses less of a direct threat to China. China has more expansive plans, is more authoritarian, and is much stronger economically. Russia isn't the big bear it used to be.
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