All these factors should be acknowledged when analyzing Russian foreign policy. The Kremlin has its significant share of difficulties in the Eurasian macroregion; often the goals Russia establishes are beyond its current means. However it would be a mistake not to consider Russian moves in Eurasia very carefully. Famously, President Obama said that Russia is “a regional power.” Even if this assessment is correct, when the region is Eurasia, Moscow’s actions here cannot help but have global repercussions.

Nikolay Pakhomov is a political analyst and consultant in New York City. He is a Russian International Affairs Council expert. You can follow him on Twitter @nik_pakhomov.

Image: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev​. Kremlin.ru