Do we not agree that Russia, like it or not, is the “Big Dog” in that region? Just as we (or at least we were) the Big Dog in the Western Hemisphere?
Maybe I’m guilty of “realpolitik” here. But I believe there are some concessions you have to make to Russia here regarding their sphere of influence.
I think that any thing which weakens Russia makes the world safer in the long run. As much as I hate Islamofacists they have only killed a fraction of what the Communists of Russia have. The Islamofacists have had 1600 years to do it as well.