Just more neocon propaganda. Calling Russia “inconsequential”? When Europe starts scrambling for overpriced gas and their economies are in ruin, let’s see how “inconsequential” they are. And when Russia sets up an alternative commodity based monetary system with China and the other BRICS+ countries, let’s see how “inconsequential” that is. The author of this article is an idiot.
I think that speaks more to the stupidity of Europe than it does the might of Russia.
Trump tried to warn them about making themselves dependent on Russian oil.
Also, most of Russia is an uninhabitable wasteland and ringed with ethnic groups that mostly hate Russians - who by the way are a dying breed demographically speaking. Far more Russians are dying than being born and so their future prospects are looking bleak - even with the BRIC arrangement.
Thus the invasion of Ukraine (and quite possible other places before they are through). They are running out of time to restore the rump buffer states that they so desperately feel they need.