Putin has often said that the loss of the Soviet Empire ( basically the empire built by annextion of neighbouring countries) was the greatest of all geo-political disasters. He blames the West for this. He can't get over it, can't move on from it. Excuse me, the populations of those countries were fed up with the system and revolted, kicking the Soviet puppet governments out and taking back control of their countries as best they could. Fast forward to now, what has Russia got to offer these lost countries that it seeks to regain... freedom, nope, fair elections, I doubt it. A better life... hardly. The average Russian life from what I can see, and those I have met, is not something I would wish on anyone. Its great though if you are in the elite circle.
