They don’t have the EPA there.
Anyone familiar with geography knows that Russia is larger than the United States. Thank goodness for Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Russia has incredible resources and an incredible lack of infrastructure. 1000000 x 0 = 0
Putin understands the 0, but he lacks the ability to change anything because those who put him there do not want change. In typical Russian fashion, he accepts the 0 and the fact that Russia will always do less with more. Putin will stick with what he knows. It’s the Russian way.