The author, former director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, writes:

• “The challenge that Russia is facing is unparalleled in our history. The point is not only that in the West we have not only no allies, but even potential partners. … The United States and its allies, instead of the relatively conservative strategies of containment of the Soviet Union … have set much more decisive goals, which in fact mean the exclusion of Russia from world politics as an independent factor and the complete destruction of the Russian economy.”
• “The success of this strategy would allow the West, led by the United States, to finally resolve the ‘Russian question’ and create favorable opportunities for victory in the confrontation with China.”  
• “It must be understood that the strategic defeat that the West, led by the United States, is preparing for Russia, will not lead to peace and the subsequent restoration of relations. With a high probability, the theater of the ‘hybrid war’ will simply move from Ukraine further east, into the borders of Russia itself, the existence of which in its current form will be in question. … This strategy of the adversary must be actively counteracted … The immediate and most important task of this strategy is to achieve strategic success in Ukraine.”
• “As part of solving the problems of restructuring foreign economic relations and creating a new model of the world order, the most important areas are cooperation with world powers, China and India, as well as Brazil; with leading regional players - Turkey, ASEAN countries, Gulf states, Iran, Egypt, Algeria, Israel, South Africa, Pakistan, Argentina, Mexico and others.”
• “It is necessary to move from retaliatory steps to initiative actions that strengthen the position of the Russian Federation in the total economic war actually declared by the West and cause significant damage to the adversary. Now the question is being decided whether we are able to save the country and develop it further. To do this, Russia's strategy must overcome the circumstances surrounding and constraining it.”

Read the full article at Russia in Global Affairs.

This item is part of Russia Matters’ “Clues from Russian Views” series, in which we share what newsmakers in/from Russia are saying on Russia-related issues that impact key U.S. national interests so that RM readers can glean clues about their thinking.

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