cgt, they got rich on EU energy supplies. They have the heavy manufacturing capable of producing a blue water navy to rival the US and Nato. They built and launched half of the international space station. They have superior hyper speed rocket technology to the US and everyone else except china, with the US playing catch up. They possibly have developed the worlds best anti aircraft/ICBM system system in the S400/S500. They have designed and built their own, very competitive supersonic fighter and bomber force. They have developed electronic warfare weapons. With 80% of the world's fertilizer, they have the capability of creating world food shortages with that alone. Prevent Russia and Ukraine exporting their wheat will create a world wide famine, caused by Nato sanctions. One of those Kleptomaniacs has just taken over the 850 McDonalds franchises. Calling it Mc and even keeping the golden arches. A lot of their military industry is in the Donbas. Even on the financial front they are now actively moving against the USD petro dollar and reserve currency position. Care to name any other 3rd rate resource country that could do even some of the above. Russia have been quietly joining the arms race since Clintons illegal bombing of Serbia. I am sure it was a hard pill to swallow as Russian weapons and planes were unable to resist, under the friendly drinker Yeltsin. Then they were not a superpower. Bad luck for US that they didn't follow through while they had a clear advantage, and bad luck that Puntin was rising to power. Russia are now a genuine superpower IMO. A high price to pay to divert attention from a Clinton BJ, but it is what it is. Bombing the Chinese embassy was also probably not such a wise decision.
