Putin frightens me more than any Russian leader since Andropov.
Look, we all know who Putin was and is.
Now, is it better to have him as an enemy, or a friend at arm’s length.
Russia has been invaded from the West. Sure it is leery of the West. I do think Putin can see problems with China too.
We need to work out a relationship that is reasoned and beneficial to both nations. We have failed to pursue that to the extent we should have.
The only alternative is for Putin to go ahead and align with China in perpetuity. Would that be helpful?