The conversation around Russia usually focuses on collapse, chaos, or leadership change. The deeper issue is not whether Moscow falls. It is about why the West needs Russia, even if Western capitals avoid saying this in public. Europe’s reliance on Russia weakened after 2022 but it never disappeared. It slipped into quieter channels instead. Some readers may find this uncomfortable. Yet global systems do not always follow political preferences. They follow geography, resources, and the movement of trade. Hence, even skeptics might realize why the West’s strategy hinges on Russia. A Power the West Cannot Replace Russia’s strategic value to … Continue reading Why the West Needs Russia More Than It Wants to Admit