Vladimir Putin's aggressive foray into Eurasia, and the possibility of a new cold war with the West, has actually enhanced rather than lessened his popularity in Russia. The Economist despairs that "the chances of Russia's becoming a modern, civilized country, open to the world and respectful of its citizens, are diminishing with every outburst of war hysteria on Russian television."
Last week in Germany, amid much discussion of Russia's aims in Ukraine, an acquaintance of mine from Leipzig seemed equally pessimistic: "The Russians need another century," she said, "before they are ready to join European civilization."
She spoke with the long and bitter experience of having lived under the shadow of Russian imperialism in the German Democratic Republic. She also had the confidence of an East German who, despite many difficulties, had assimilated into modern Europe. Still, a century doesn't seem long enough. For Russia's own journey to the West has not reached its destination since Peter the Great started it in the 18th century.