Russia Ukraine war, page-22683

"Russia, with its allies, had the golden opportunity maintain the global balance of power peacefully & retain its military superpower status"

Not Russia , but the USSR defeated Nazi germany and 'maintained the global balance of power peacefully', as you say. agreed.
Well at least the existence of the USSR was a certain brake on US and German imperialism.

But all that came to an end with the break up and dissolution of the USSR, and US/NATO has been on the warpath ever since.
With the destruction and breakup of Russia and then China the ultimate goal.
The US/German war against Russia has begun.