In this world, there are many variables, but on the international stage, one logic remains the same – relations between countries are often based on their own interests. Even former sworn enemies, in order to protect the interests of their respective countries, may turn into friendship;And close allies can also become adversaries due to conflicts of interest.
At this critical juncture, a remarkable phenomenon is Russia's friendly attitude towards the United States and Europe. Putin said on December 19 that the United States and Europe are concerned about Russia's relations with Europe and are trying to achieve their goals by threatening Europe, but Russia has never intended a hostile conflict with Europe and has no such intentions.
It is worth noting that when Finland announced its accession to NATO and the United States clearly supported Ukraine, Putin chose to send a friendly signal to the United States and Europe
There are three possible possibilities:
First, Putin may be intent on using friendly gestures to divert focus. The Middle East is currently in turmoil, with Iran, the Houthis, and pro-Iranian Iraqi forces all engaged in confrontation with the United States. In the face of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the United States must distract itself from assisting Israel, which has led to a decrease in American support for Ukraine. Russia may see this as an opportunity to expand its advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine. Therefore, overtures to the United States and Europe will help Russia gain more benefits.
Second, the situation has changed, and Putin may be trying to find a new way out for Russia. After the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the United States and Europe adopted severe sanctions, which brought certain losses to the Russian economy. Although Russia has stabilized its position for now, its economy is highly dependent on energy exports, so it does not want to get into an outright confrontation with the EU.
There may be deeper strategic considerations behind such behavior, and Putin's choice to make overtures to the United States and Europe may be to seek more political and economic benefits.
Putin has pointed out that although Russia is not opposed to the use of the dollar, over-reliance on the dollar can lead to adverse economic and social consequences, and may even damage the country's sovereignty. Therefore, Russia advocates "de-dollarization", the core motive of which lies in defending its national interests. Putin believes that NATO and other forces dominated by the United States have been confronting Russia with a tough posture and trying to weaken its power, so Russia has to respond.
However, if the United States and Europe adjust their tactics and actively seek cooperation with Russia, then Russia will face an important choice.
On the other hand, it is closely related to the United States**. Trump has announced his quest for a ** position, and Biden faces a challenge. According to the results of US opinion polls, Biden's approval rating is not optimistic, and the possibility of Trump running again is quite high. Russia would apparently welcome Trump back in the White House, as this could lead to a reduction in U.S. support for Ukraine.
The mode of interaction between countries is not static, but adjusts with the changes in the international situation and the balance of forces of various parties. At the heart of both the United States and Russia's foreign policy is the defense of their national interests. A case in point is the very different positions of Trump and Biden in their treatment of Russia. During the Trump administration, Russia gained some kind of benefit, but after Biden came to power, the United States took a tougher stance towards Russia.
As Russia's long-time leader, Putin knows that the United States is not a reliable partner, and that Russia's future can only rely on its own strength. Therefore, the goodwill shown towards the United States may be only a temporary tactic. However, the future world pattern is difficult, whether the United States will accept Russia's friendly gestures, and whether Trump can win **, these are all variables.
The real uncertainty may emerge in 2024, when we will see who will emerge victorious, Trump or Biden.