from undermining US positions

To this end, the US would ideally expect Russia to not strengthen China’s capabilities; therefore, the ultimate goal of rapprochement is to weaken the Moscow-Beijing nexus. This seems like a far-fetched idea, as Russia is unlikely to turn away from China, which has consistently, albeit cautiously, facilitated its military campaign in Ukraine. Another perspective is the view in Moscow that Russia and China are likely to switch places soon; while China will find itself at the forefront of confronting the US, Moscow will pursue a more balanced policy, refraining from undermining US positions wherever possible—an approach it has followed until recently. Sanctions relief can be an essential incentive for further US-Russia engagement. The prospect of a grand bargain สล็อต