>But the idea of a powerless Russia, or even worse, a Russia that is a puppet of China, is terrifying. This is already the case. Everyone knows Russia's milit

>But the idea of a powerless Russia, or even worse, a Russia that is a puppet of China, is terrifying. This is already the case. Everyone knows Russia's military prowess was a bluff - that's why we've seen another attempt in Armenia; fortunately USA came and filled the power vacuum there. And of course Kazakhstan used that opportunity to humiliate Putin once again. Russia could theoretically balance between China and India. But it sounds like a complicated act, especially so for a failed state. I think it will end up with making sure Russia ends up being a puppet, but not a very useful one.