Not until Soviet-nostalgic Putin and his circle of kleptocrat oligarchs are out of power and done dominating European energy/gas -- will Russia start acting adult and stop bullying their former Soviet and empire holdings. Not until they are gone will Russia stop using Iran, terrorists, and Syria to pester and toy with an Israel-centered Middle East order.
The Eastern Flank understands this. That's why they are our strongest allies and NATO's strongest supporters to this day. If the 1980s were about winning the "Cold War" -- then the era we're in now is about cementing and securing the freedoms of those east of the Iron Curtain, and it looks like Russia will be the last country to choose freedom.
Honestly if economic smarts are an indicator, China is likely to be more cooperative at this rate. Because they value their economic gains so much. But the key is how strong the younger of generation of Christians will be in shaping their culture.
I don’t agree with your analysis of Russian actions. I think their behavior in both Georgia and the Ukraine is (mostly) justifiable (majority Russian culture populations that didn’t want corrupt / leftist government). I think their support of Iran is outrageous but so is our support of Saudi Arabia. There needs to be a united front against Islam.
There is definitely history between Russia and the former satellites that would be a challenge to overcome.
I watch a LOT of Putin’s speeches and I don’t see any nostalgia for the empire. He makes no secret that he wants Russia to be strong and independent, however, I don’t think that should be equated a desire to reconquer central and eastern Europe.