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I have no idea what US voters/leaders "want Russia to be". I don't believe EU voters/leaders wanted Putin's international military aggression. I believe they w

I have no idea what US voters/leaders "want Russia to be". I don't believe EU voters/leaders wanted Putin's international military aggression. I believe they were cowards. They thought cheap Russian gas was the solution to their political (and perhaps personal) problems, and they set aside the potential consequences. German leaders, in particular, welcomed "trade" with Russia on the basis that if they could entangle Russia in enough mutually-beneficial trading relationships, Russia would never attack Europe with militay force. This is what's called Ostpolitik, and perhaps Realpolitik (i.e. "practical politics"). Nowadays it looks much more like "cynical politics"; make hay while the sun shines, and damn the consequences.

vladms 3y ago
It is clear now that the objective of Ostpolitik was not achieved, but the simple alternative (don't trade) does not seem to be obviously better either (Russians would have had even less reasons not to invade more). If that Ostpolitik delayed the issues with Russia and gave Ukraine some more time, maybe it was the best of the bad options available.