I wouldn’t read anything into this. Russia is (or recently was) rated as one of the most Xenophobic countries on earth. They don’t like Trump. They don’t like Americans. They don’t like anyone outside their borders. But mostly they don’t like Americans. When I was there a few years ago my host told me to always say I’m Canadian because it makes things slightly less awkward. No, this wasn’t Spies Like Us. This was real life.
Met a guy on a plane out of Moscow once that told me they like Aussies. They really, really like Aussies, he said.
Now that you mention it, when I was in Mexico last a guy accused me of thinking they are a nation of thieves (which I do but it’s beside the point). I’m going back this fall, perhaps if it comes up again I should tell people I’m Canadian.
Interesting. I’ve found Russians much more nationalistic than xenophobic, but I admit my experience is with Russian expats. (My wife speaks enough to follow the real conversations, though she isn’t fluent.)
Those we met overseas were more the “hate America; not Americans” response once common to most Europeans. Of course, given the Leftist vitriol, such civilized discourse is anachronistic. These days, I’m more inclined to visit Eastern Europe over the despicable cowardly West. Once I’m retired, Russia’s on my bucket list.
Try sitting next to one at a wedding in Manhattan. Grotesque, braggart men with badly-cut suits and women who sound like Chihuahuas.
The corollary to this is the fact that the former Eastern Bloc countries like Americans. Both groups remember what we did in the Cold War.