If he's referring to Alaska, we *bought* it from them, we didn't "boot them out."
I agree, though, Russia is weak - because it is going to be having a major demographic crisis in another generation.
Historically, Russia imagines itself with two kinds of neighbors - servants or threats. They are incapable of thinking of any other possibilities.
The Russians sold us Alaska because they knew that if they didn’t sell it that the British would soon relieve them of it. That and they had little interest in it after the Prince who loved Alaska died whilst riding his horse.