What makes you think Russia's alliances with Red China and Pink Europe are mutually exclusive? Putin's pipeline to China is already a done deal. Russia and China will continue to grow closer regardless of what happens in Europe.
They are not. But if the "New" Europe succeeds in building the cordon sanitaire (quarantine belt) it might be not worth the bother for Russia to try to keep links with Western Europe.
Putin's pipeline to China is already a done deal. Russia and China will continue to grow closer regardless of what happens in Europe.
It is not logical. Western Europe is closer (culturally too) and more attractive to Russia so long as their is no cordon sanitaire in between. On the other hand Russia and China share the long border and there is no danger of the third parties siphoning the precious resource. In addition Russia can supply Korea, Japan, India etc . The Asian market is virtually unlimited and harder to sabotage.