ABSTRACT
Russia is an important actor on the world stage. It is a country with considerable means at its disposal, which, its leaders hope, will enable it to play a major part in world affairs appropriate to its size, resources and history. Domestic support for Vladimir Putin's foreign policy and his personal popularity, should not be interpreted as evidence of a stable equilibrium in Russian politics. Russia's sovereignty itself is looking increasingly challenged, especially if viewed in the terms of the Putin government, as freedom from external sources of influence. Regained through economic revival and political stability, Russian sovereignty rests on the foundation of oil and gas. The West's toolkit for helping Russia to move towards democracy is limited. Russia can be neither coerced nor enticed into democracy. The West's solidarity and its willingness to act on issues that matter to it, with or without Russia, will be crucial to the success of any major diplomatic initiative.
