[Kazan]

Russia didn't have to be our enemy. That's the point. Our political class and oligarchs wanted to turn Russia into what Ukraine has been for them -- a corrupt nation that they could go and launder money it. Putin wouldn't allow it and his people to suffer.

If we had been fair with Russia, they could have been our allies or, at least, friendly trade partners. Now, thanks to Biden, Victoria Nuland and the neocons and their desire for a proxy war with Russia, Russia has aligned with China and BRICS and de-dollarization have accelerated.

[elpadre]

“..Russia didn’t have to be our enemy. ..”

I believe that the negotiators on both sides in the 1990’s, when the USSR was breaking up and Germany was being reunified, wanted and had a genuine desire for continuing peaceful relations. And subsequent NATO leaders blew it!

The following makes it clear: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard-western-leaders-early