A gentleman who worked as a prosecutor in Moscow for many years was my next door neighbor until last month when he moved out. This gentleman was closing in on 80 years of age so you can imagine what he saw and what he knows. Very, very impressive.
Hopefully Russia's best and brightest are not all over here. For what it's worth, I agree with your assessment of the necessity of a redirected foreign policy vis-a-vis Russia. One thing I'm not fond of though is Russian cuisine as I've been exposed to it; holy borsch is it in need of Italian stewardship.
Very few can do it right. It's like burger in America: there are McDonald's and there are better alternatives. My parents did it right, and I tell you, it IS holy. I've been always dissapointed with all other recipes. It's an art, that few master, or even know how to do properly.