So might some Afghanis.
Let’s get to the 21st century, shall we The Russian Federation has never had any armed conflict with Afghanistan. The USSR had troops in Afghanistan. Whether those troops were there at the invitation of the legitimate Afghani government seems open to question.
The Russian Federation is not the Union of Soviet Social Republics.
The Ukrainian mess is a civil war or war of succession. I think it is fairly clear that Russia is supporting the breakaway Donbass republics with humanitarian aid and military aid. I see no sign of aggression per se.
most of the former Eastern Bloc
You might like to specify some instances of Russian aggression?
Of note, I personally consider direct meddling with elections to be “aggression”.
Well I am not sure I would go that far but I can see your point. As soon as I can think of slightly less powerful term I will get back to you. I agree that it is bad. Both the Soviet Union and the USA did this all the time and the USA is continuing. I just cannot recall any recent Russian Federation interference in elections egregious enough to term it " direct meddling". I imagine the RF would do so if they thought it worthwhile, I just cannot recall one. Note I see Russiagate as nothing more than standard US xenophobic hysteria which seems to strike every few decades (See the Catholic Plots in the 19th C, the German scare in the early 20th, McCartyism…). Perhaps the build up to the Spanish–American War as well.
