Russia's Geopolitical Role

Russia has (relatively) more to loose?

what would Russia have to gain? my bets are China. They really act with impunity in this region of the world.

Russia is hostile? By what metric?

Wouldn't that make Russia an ally too?

Russia is basically not a major player anymore. It's a vassal state of PRC. Thinking it would be a useful ally against PRC is a complete misread of the situation. Sacrificing a state and alliance with EU for this is doubly insane. US and West was doing absolutely fine and held ground and the values (freedom etc) against oppressive dictatorships right up until this year. It's distressing.

China? Russia? Etc? Really I think this is a good thing.

Why specifically Russia and not Norway, Saudi Arabia or ... the US ?

I don't think this is any surprise really. Russia is still a big, powerful country, and the West has changed it's attitude so that it's less concerned about things that don't directly challenge its interests.I mean, China gets away with much worse I think (Uyghurs, South China Ses belligerence, Hong Kong, etc.), and they get little substantive pushback for the same reason as Russia.

Russia wants to project power by standing by its neighbor but finds that doing so isn’t making a meaningful difference

Russia can’t do anything, Unless you are Ukraine(invaded), Georgia or Europe (remember that fuel crisis and pipelines) that is.Or the United States in our case.Or Syria (Russia is assad’s Primary backer)..So yeah, remember when Democrats ridiculed Romney for his Russia statements and Obama and HRC declared it was time for a “reset button” for the bad relationship betweeen the Bush white goose and Russia?Or how about their efforts to back certain black lives matter groups and pro pol