After the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaders of the Russian Federation Yeltsin, Putin and others actually had a strong pro-American tendency and were eager to get understanding and support from Europe. However, they gradually realized that it was impossible for Russians, Americans, British, French, and Germans to play together.
1. The Russians were once teammates of Britain and France
Russia spans two continents, but no Russians say they are Asians. Most Russians think they are Europeans, a few think they are Eurasians, and Russians think they are noble Europeans in their bones. European countries such as Britain, France and Germany regard the Russians as foreigners, and it is difficult to say that there is anything in common between the Slavs and the Germans. From small countries enslaved by the Golden Horde to big countries that influence Eastern Europe, Western European countries always seem to look down on the Russians.
The real understanding of the importance of Russia was a world war triggered by the intensification of internal conflicts among the Germans. Both the British and Germans wanted to win over the Russians to deal with their enemies. Due to their kinship with the Austrians, the Germans chose the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Tsarist Russia, and were eventually defeated by the Allies formed by Britain, France and Russia. This was the First World War, but the Russians did not have the opportunity to taste the results of victory. Since Tsarist Russia became Soviet Russia, Soviet Russia made peace with the Germans. After the war, Soviet Russia did not gain the rights and interests of the victorious country, but was instead surrounded and suppressed by the West.
Soviet Russia later became the Soviet Union, becoming the thorn in the eyes of the great powers such as Britain, France and the United States. Germany became Nazi Germany under the stimulation of the Treaty of Versailles. Originally, the common enemy between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany was Britain, France and the United States, but the two sides with different beliefs did not trust each other. After the Nazi Germany failed in the war against Britain, it turned to the Soviet Union. It is very ironic that the two sides have signed the "Soviet and Germany Non-aggression Treaty".
The outbreak of the Soviet-German War gave Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union the opportunity to join forces. The pressure brought by Nazi Germany led to the unity of hostile parties. Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union united to defeat the German Nazis, Italian fascism and Japanese militarism. This was World War II. World War II is different from World War I. World War I is a battle between the great powers. World War II included both wars between the great powers and wars between people from all over the world against fascism. The anti-fascist alliance defeated the Axis powers and established a new post-war order.
From the rise of Tsarist Russia to the end of World War II, the Russians were often ally of Britain, France and the United States.
2. The opposition between the West and the Soviet Union brought about by the US-Soviet hegemony
When World War II just ended, it is actually very vague that who will lead the world. Britain and France defeated Germany and naturally wanted to restore their former hegemony. The United States and the Soviet Union also wanted to gain a place in the reconstructed world pattern.
Objectively speaking, the Americans had the opportunity to be ahead, and it was the Germans who "helped". Without Germany's heavy blow to Britain and France, the Americans were not able to challenge Britain and France, while the Soviet Union expanded its power in the late World War II.
After the Suez Canal crisis, Britain and France were unable to maintain their "hegemony" status, and the United States and the Soviet Union formed a situation of "two poles" coexisting.
If we talk about the control areas of the two major camps alone, the Soviet Union seems to be larger, but in fact, North America and Western Europe are more developed, and the Soviet Union's economic strength is not that strong. Economic strength determines national strength to a certain extent, especially among major countries. You have it, and I have it. The key is quantity, quality and endurance. Weak national strength has a certain relationship with the economy.
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union fought several major battles, but the results were actually not particularly ideal. The United States lost the Korean War and the Vietnam War, while the Soviet Union lost the Afghan War. The United States' developed economy and the support of Western European allies have allowed the United States to maintain its world leadership, while the Soviet Union has continued to lose its main allies and gradually become a lonely army.
The most terrifying thing is that the Soviets fell into the trap of Americans and Europeans. The Americans relied on the "Star Wars Plan" and lowering oil prices, which severely damaged the Soviet economy. Entering the 1980s, the Soviet Union was facing collapse under the influence of the arms race.
The US-Soviet battle lasted for 45 years. The Soviets were always suppressed by the United States, mainly because their overall strength was weaker than that of the US-European camps.
3. Russia's "one-sided" thinking after the collapse of the Soviet Union
Earing the late 1980s, the Soviet Union had begun to show signs of disintegration. The separation of the three Baltic countries from the Soviet Union made the Soviet Union, which was the largest country in the world at that time, and the only two supra-national countries, lose their face. The loss of Eastern Europe and the loss of a franchise republic indicates that the Soviet Union would lose a lot.
The Soviet leaders failed to prevent the country from being destroyed. "August 19" became the masterpiece of the Soviet Union. They tried to save the Soviet Union's strength and finally had to "sacrifice" for the Soviet Union.
The leader of the Russian Federation Yeltsin took over Russia after August 19th, noting that it was Russia, not the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation, the main body of the Soviet Union, was no longer able to regroup the alliance, and the Soviet Union would inevitably disintegrate.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union was due to the Soviet Union itself, but it was also inseparable from the infiltration of the West and support for opposing Soviet forces. Yeltsin and his supporters believed that the Soviet Union was gone and that Russia, like the West, would turn from its former enemies into friends.
When Russia first gained independence, its main direction of diplomacy was to the West, and Yeltsin was also looking forward to the opening of a "honeymoon period" with Europe and the United States. However, the West will never let go of the alternative "European alternative" Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union does not mean that Russia and Europeans are the same.
Although the large-scale Russia has "shrunk" a lot compared to the Soviet Union, it is still the country with the largest land area in the world, one of the Five Constant People, and an important economic and military power. These are enough to allow Europeans and Americans to see Russia's "threat". The countries that can fight the United States have long been Russia.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO, as the European and American military organization that defended the Soviet Union, did not dissolve, but continued to exist, which also indicates that there will be barriers between Europe and the United States. NATO's eastward expansion time and time again allowed Russia to see Europe and the United States' indifference and even ignorance.
Russia gradually sees clearly that the United States, Europe and the West will not consider Russia's feelings, but will only double the "punishment" Russia. Russia's completely westward thinking is obviously not in line with Russia's development and security needs.
IV. After reflection, the relationship between Russia and Europe and the United States has become extremely complicated
Yelthusin's successor Putin is actually pro-US and Europe. This is actually easy to understand. Russians think they are Europeans in their bones, and they also belonged to traditional powers in the past, and they still think that the country of Asia, Africa and Latin America is "noble". The Russians misjudged the situation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia's "alternative" prevented Russia from returning to Europe and even had to face the siege and interception from Europe and the United States. Russia had to find a new direction for development and cooperation.
Russia has also begun to change from thinking that it is a simple European country to exposing itself as an Eurasian country. Russia continues to "get closer" to the east, highlighting its "stay away" from Europe and the United States, but will Russia really stay away from Europe and the United States? Russia's heart has always been in Europe, and now it is a last resort. Once there is a chance, Russia will definitely return to Europe.
The opposition between Russia and Europe is actually mutual fear. Russia is afraid of no buffer zone and insecurity. Europe is afraid of the huge Russia, so it has long chosen to keep Russia out of Europe.
Russia is not ally with Europe and the United States, and it is hard to say it is an enemy, with cooperation and competition. Europe and the United States will be guarding against Russia for a long time, and Russia will also have long-term conflicts with Europe and the United States due to security issues.
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