The ordinary Russians see their country as a great power, a great force for good (yes, really -- brainwashed, aren't they?) and one whose time must come again.
Putin doesn't want to strangle the USA, he wants two things -- the grander is to have Russia as a respected power, an equal of the USA and the second is to enrich his cronies and himself
He doesn't want to strangle the USA, rather he is like a weak, cornered rat who strikes at what he thinks can "hurt" the USA.
You are naive. Russia's nuclear war preparations-- his alliance with communist and Islamist countries-- his subversion and disinformation campaign against the West which depict us as the great "Satan"-- this is not how someone manifests their desire to be "an equal." It's the mark of an enemy, the same enemy they've always been.
By the way, you mentioned you live in Poland? Better be careful:
“We have to strike Poland and the Baltic States, where there are NATO rockets and aircraft. Since we cannot allow one plane to take off and strike Russia – we will have to strike first – half an hour before takeoff. And to be sure, we will be carpet bombing. America is not a threat, but the small midget states of Europe will cease to exist. They will be wiped out. Then NATO will have to beg us for negotiations. Otherwise we will give them again a May ’45.” – Vladimir Zhirinovsky, August 2014 (Television interview, 8.08.2014.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8w1gwm7EzU