For decades, U.S. foreign policy has treated Russia as a permanent adversary, driving it deeper into China’s pocket. This has been a strategic blunder. While Moscow and Beijing currently align against the West, their long-term interests do not fully align. The U.S. should recognize and exploit these fractures.
Trump, despite the media hysteria, laid the groundwork for a more pragmatic approach—one that saw Russia as a potential counterweight to China rather than blindly pushing it into Xi Jinping’s arms. A second Trump administration could build on this by engaging Moscow through energy deals, security cooperation in Central Asia, and diplomatic backchannels.
This isn’t a new idea. In the 1990s, Russia had a real opportunity to integrate into a pan-European framework. But Bill Clinton’s administration deliberately shut that door—reportedly because Democrats feared such an alliance would create a stronger, more cohesive Europe that could challenge U.S. dominance. Some speculate that ideological concerns played a major role, as a unified European-Russian bloc could have strengthened Western identity in ways that clashed with the left’s vision of a post-national, multicultural world order. That era is over—perhaps making this the perfect moment to rethink U.S. strategy.
Regardless of motive, the consequences are clear: instead of fostering a stable Eurasian balance, Washington’s short-sightedness pushed Russia toward China. If the U.S. doesn’t course-correct, Beijing will cement its grip over Moscow, forming a formidable anti-Western bloc. A smarter strategy would pull Russia back—if only slightly—disrupting China’s ambitions and reshaping the geopolitical chessboard in America’s favor.
Whatever your views on the Russia-Ukraine war, some basic geopolitical realities have been ignored by the media. Much of this aggression stems from U.S. policy failures that started over a decade ago. Obama, in particular, bears responsibility for setting the stage. This isn’t about taking Russia’s side—it’s about acknowledging the facts. And these facts are difficult to refute.
If you care to look into this, read: "How the West Brought War to Ukraine: Understanding How U.S. and NATO Policies Led to Crisis, War, and the Risk of Nuclear Catastrophe" - a book by Benjamin Abelow that challenges the mainstream Western narrative surrounding the Ukraine conflict. Abelow states that the United States and NATO bear significant responsibility for the ongoing crisis. Based on my limited research, I agree.
Channeling my inner Henry Kissinger, and acknowledging the previous issues within this region, created by American blunders, we should push for a peace deal, which will undoubtedly change the borders of Ukraine, and move towards an operational relationship with Russia as part of a grander anti-China strategy. Hating Putin and Russia to the point of driving them straight into a grand relationship with China, permanently, is foolish.
I'll leave you with this post by Matt Ridley→
