Russia is has very opportunistic foreign policy. Russian way is to take everything that they can get. Agreements or promises mean nothing. They respect only pow

Russia is has very opportunistic foreign policy. Russian way is to take everything that they can get. Agreements or promises mean nothing. They respect only power. They overreached in Ukraine, but the strategy is otherwise sound. They can still win something if the West blinks. Russia as a state acts rationally after the hard line is drawn and backed with power. The only way you can provoke Russia is when you giving up something for free for a promise of a peace.