Russia follows traditional imperial and Soviet patterns

Russian analysts like Dmitri Trenin (Carnegie Moscow Centre) and Fyodor Lukyanov (Russia in Global Affairs) see a changing attitude in the Kremlin’s reactions to crises in Belarus, Nagorno-Karabakh and Kyrgyzstan. In their view the Kremlin is becoming more pragmatic. It rejects nostalgia, starts looking after its own interests and acts with more restraint in its 'near abroad'.  German Russia expert Hannes Adomeit disagrees and argues that Russia just follows traditional imperial Russian (and Soviet) patterns of behaviour.