Russians, I have gotten along well with. However, the Russian elites see themselves as different and above their European cohorts (and Americans by extension).

Russians, I have gotten along well with. However, the Russian elites see themselves as different and above their European cohorts (and Americans by extension). They have a long history of subjugating their people whether it was oligarchs, communists, or aristocrats. I don't think liberal democratic ideas spread there like they did in the rest of the West and never became sewn in with the national identity. It seems like the Russians have a sort of nihilism about all of it, at least the ones I've spoken with on such things over a beer or 6. I mean look at the USA, a country founded on democratic principals and there was still a strong minority (30%?) rooting for Trump to steal the election and possibly set up a one party system for republicans and white supremacists.