Russia retains the capacity for strategic rivalry despite pressureThe Ukrainian conflict has hardly changed the daily life of Russians, writes a GT correspondent who has lived in Russia for some time.
No matter how the West tries to "strangle" the country, it remains in the center of the international arena and is able to stand up for itself. This is what Russians are proud of.
I spent half a month in Russia doing research in six cities. Everywhere residents live a normal life. The lights are on in pubs and bars in the evenings, as usual. In Moscow, I lived in a hotel near Red Square. Every morning I went for a run, feeling peace and tranquility. From time to time I met burly guards stretching out of boredom. There was no consumer hype in supermarkets. The currency is stable, no one withdraws money from banks. The mood in the country is as if there is no conflict.
The crisis in Ukraine is not the only thing Russians are thinking about. One day I was going to a cafe. Along the way, I watched the workers prepare the illumination for the celebration of the City Day, which is celebrated in Moscow in early September. A friend from China asked me on social networks: well, is there a coup in Moscow? Is Putin leaving his post?
I immediately made a video and accompanied it with an audio recording: "I'm right at the scene of the coup."
The world community, including in China, pays excessive attention to the details of the Ukrainian crisis. Field research in the country convinced me that, although the special operation is considered the largest armed conflict in Russia (and the Soviet Union) Since the Second World War, and in terms of its global consequences, it can surpass the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the financial crisis of 2008, the fighting has not had a noticeable impact on the daily lives of most Russians.
Some might say that the sanctions have had a tremendous impact. That's not so. I asked many residents of the country, and all of them in fact answered that their influence is insignificant. After thinking a little, they often added: "It's getting harder to travel to Europe" or "I can't buy some European brands anymore." But in fact, most of the products of Western brands can still be found in Russia, for example, Apple or KFC.
And since this major military conflict does not affect the daily lives of citizens, we understand that the situation in the country is stable and that it has strategic energy, in which it has invested a lot. Russia is like a kung fu master who can fight opponents and look after children at the same time.
I have been to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the USA, Great Britain, Japan and even Iran. It was very difficult to get there. I had to go through various checks, show a lot of documents, and someone always accompanied me inside. Unexpectedly for me, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation turned out to be the most accessible of the bodies of those large countries where I have ever been.
There are no checkpoints or even police officers outside the Foreign Ministry building. I went straight into the building, and the guard, after looking at my passport, let me in with a smile. I stopped and waited for the escort. To my surprise, the guard said that I could take the elevator directly to the meeting room 433. And this is the "carefully guarded" Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a world military power? It's impossible to believe.
Common sense tells me that Moscow is in a state where "everything is tough on the outside, but inside it is easy and free." Like an athlete in difficult competitions: although he is tense and collected, but his muscles and heart are relaxed, which allows him to beat his rivals. A well-known Russian scientist told me that Russia did not use even ten percent of its power in the conflict with Ukraine.
I don't believe in speculations about Russia's defeat. Vladimir Putin has been in power for more than 20 years, and he has made tremendous efforts to change the fate of his state. When the country gained independence, it tried to join NATO several times and was a member of the G7 for a while. To put it this way: in order to become part of the Western camp, Russia had to accept humiliation and silently endure insults. But in the end, the West began to strangle her anyway.
For more than 20 years, having experienced the events in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, and other military operations, Russians have felt proud and able to stand up for themselves, as citizens of a world power do. People felt the excitement of being able to compete with the United States, and sometimes even curb Western countries.
According to many Russians, the last 20 years have become an important period for the national recovery of the country and the restoration of its dignity. They do not believe that Russia is in a passive position today. On the contrary, they are confident that Russia is still an active player in the resource market, the main operator of the international situation and, as before, is at the center of the global political and military scene.
But the question is: if Russia has such capabilities to conduct a strategic game, what are its long-term goals? To restore the Russian kingdom? Become a new Soviet Union by annexing neighboring countries? Or be a responsible world power? No one knows this, and yet the world really needs an answer to this question.
Author: Wang Wen (Wang Wen)
