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Putin confessed that he had a good intention to help the United States but was betrayed, and it turned out that the "partners" were so indifferent!
In a recent live broadcast of Russia** Putin, when asked by a reporter about his advice 20 years ago, Putin admitted that the first piece of advice is "in relations with our so-called partners, do not be overly gullible." The "partners" here refer to the United States and Western countries. The seemingly simple answer outlines a thought-provoking history, what is the story behind the trust of one country in another?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States did not stop suppressing Russia, especially the existence and continuous expansion of NATO, which directly pointed to Russia's core interests. And Putin also had illusions about the United States back then, and even discussed with the United States the possibility of joining NATO, hoping that Russia could become a member of the Western camp.
However, the attitude of the United States towards Russia is a big surprise. Before and after the 9/11 incident, Russia paid great goodwill, issued an early warning to the United States, presented the 9/11 monument after the incident, and even allowed the United States to establish a military base in Central Asia. However, these measures did not exchange the sincerity of the United States, but after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the United States even erased Putin's name from the monument in Bayon, New Jersey, to show its support for Ukraine.
This act of perfidy raises suspicions about Europe. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted frankly after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that the purpose of mediating the signing of the Minsk Agreement between Russia and Ukraine was to delay time, just to freeze the war and buy time for arming Ukraine. Merkel, as the leader of a European country, was also fooled on the Russian issue, which is undoubtedly a painful lesson.
Putin's self-reflection echoes all this. His overly naïve expectations of the United States and the West in the past have caused Russia to suffer a lot in international affairs. Putin used to refer to the West as a "partner", but now Putin uses the term "so-called partner" to describe the West, indicating that Russia no longer sees it as a true partner.
What is the reason behind all this?Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, but it has never been truly accepted by the West. The United States, in particular, has always regarded Russia as a potential threat and continues to regard it as an enemy despite Russia's efforts and goodwill. In the process, Russia has paid a huge price for its credulity in the United States and the West, and now Putin is deeply aware of this.
As Putin said, it is crucial not to be overly gullible about the "so-called partners" of his own advice 20 years ago. Hidden beneath the superficial friendship between the United States and the West is the continuous erosion and suppression of Russia's core interests. Russia was once a member of the G8, but the West did not really accept Russia, but remained wary of it.
At the military level, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has once again demonstrated the West's distrust of Russia. Even if Russia has a possible victory in the conflict, the price to pay cannot be ignored. Russia has seen the true face of the West in this conflict and realized that they will not miss any opportunity to weaken and suppress Russia. And all this is because of the gullibility of the United States and the West at the beginning, and the fact that they paid too much goodwill.
Looking back at history, we see a Russia in the international arena that once had illusions, a Russia that once expected to be a member of the West. However, the disacceptance and distrust of the United States and the West have caused Russia to suffer a lot in this big game. Putin's self-reflection echoes the growth and awakening of a country, and also brings us profound enlightenment.
Finally, 20 years have passed, and Russia has experienced ups and downs in international affairs, but it has gradually awakened along the way. For observers of military international relations, this is a colorful and thought-provoking historical evolution. We can see that behind the military is the country's gains and disgraces, and it also reflects the complexity and changeability of international relations. Russia's experience teaches us that in international affairs, it is necessary to keep a clear head and not to trust the so-called partners, because there may be unpredictable risks hidden behind them.