I have no illusions about Putin, and am quite cynical about his reasons for this stance. But I support the stance itself nonetheless, and I support the apparent majority of Russians who support it.
“I have no illusions about Putin, and am quite cynical about his reasons for this stance. But I support the stance itself nonetheless, and I support the apparent majority of Russians who support it.”
Exactly. To paraphrase Dennis Prager, conservatives judge actions while liberals judge motives. For whatever reason, Putin and the majority of Russians are showing far more common sense on this issue than the US and Western Europe.