Russians must ask themselves the question why they can no longer influence even the small border countries , the method of force no longer works, it is soft power and money that matters now , the US does not even need to ask the eastern countries to join NATO, they are the ones who do it of their own free will.
Russia has the potential to become N1 in the economy and have an influence as great as the US, They have insane potential but a Third World mentality. Yet they have brains, good scientists, economists, men of culture, etc., everything needed to develop this vast territory.