Adebayo, Russia needs to be separated from Putin.

The two Greats of Russian leadership, Peter and Catherine modeled much of their empires on France -- language, dress, art, literature etc. And so I imagine France having a kinship of sorts with Russia because of this. People often forget (or don't know) how powerful Katherine II actually was.

Interesting that you mention the time of break-up of the USSR. There were voices at the time advocating direct financial help to ordinary Russians displaced by the rapid change to a demand and supply based economy. Millions went from having little income to none. Had these folk been cushioned in the transition (kind of what we did with COVID), there may have evolved a different Russia and one more alined with the West.

Many thanks. Always good.