They effected the Russian economy badly. Years ago. And now Russia has restructured its economy to be significantly less dependent on the Western Globohomo pyramid scheme. They represent a large market for European goods with straightforward land routes through which to move supplies. Nice work pushing them away and boxing them out of Europe.
But then again they can also offer the Europeans inexpensive natural gas via those aforementioned routes. So clearly the Russians had to be stopped.
And when the Western bubble pops again, Russia will be in a position to weather the storm better than its Chinese and European neighbors and also the Americans.
We sure these 8D chess players coordinating Western policy aren't secretly Russian assets? Asking for a friend.