I don't have your powers of perception, I have no idea what Putin imagined. I can only look at what he has done. Also I can only go by what I hear and the accounts of what I have heard are not describing an elite fighting force. I find it hard to believe we have seen Russia's finest army, but again, I am only going on the reports I have heard.
I've listened to people from MI6 and others far more qualified than I am. According to them Russian pilots get an hour a week flying time. It's barely enough for them to keep up with flying, let alone ground attack and air defence. They are getting hammered. It's much the same story with ground forces. The money that should have gone to the military has gone to oligarchs. It's been spent on incredibly extravagant lifestyles. Russia developed some great weapons. They can't afford to mass manufacture them.
I am very familiar with China, my dad was born in Shanghai and I lived in Taiwan for 8 years. China views themselves as the true world leaders with the US being an upstart child that came along during a bad episode in their history. I have no doubts that China is not interested in maintaining the status quo of being the cheap labor serfs to support the profligate Americans.
I agree. However, China wants to sell sophisticated products such as EV's, at which they excel, to world markets. They've done very well out of the West. If the West quits buying from China, as it will if China gets too aggressive, China's economy will suffer. It's fragile as it is. I have a lot of respect for Chinese people. I am not so keen on the leadership.
Saudi Arabia's interest align with Saudi Arabia. If Russia takes over the role of providing security to the Middle East then they will do whatever they need to do.
Iran is Saudia Arabia's biggest issue. Same goes for Israel. Who imagined that the Saudis would make peace with Israel? Not me! If Iran ceases to be an Islamic Republic, which would not surprise me, the whole scenario changes.
In human history there is no example of any country or empire spending the vast sums on these weapons systems without using them. The idea that we can trust our "leaders" to act in a responsible fashion has no basis in history.
No other weapon has threatened the existence of the human race. It's not been used since 1945. And it's not like there has been peace in that time. It could have been used during the Korean war or even Vietnam. America refused because the potential consequences are too grave.
Russia has built an underground city in the Ural mountains that is 800 square miles. That is an incredible investment for someone who is not planning on surviving a nuclear attack.