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Russia's Core Interests and Views of the International Order

• Russia's five core interests include defense of the country and the regime, influence in the near abroad, a vision of Russia as a great power, noninterference in domestic affairs, and political and economic cooperation as an equal to other great powers.
• After pursuing closer relations with the West after the Cold War, Russia has become more skeptical and suspicious of the West. From a Russian perspective, the West has refused to recognize Russia's basic interests, and several Western activities, such as support for color revolutions and EU and NATO expansion, threaten Russia's security.
• Russia seeks to strengthen the international order where it perceives the order as benefiting Russia's core interests, as in the United Nations system and certain international economic institutions. In other areas, where Russia perceives the international order as threatening, it has actively sought to undermine the existing order.

Major Points of Contestation Between the United States and Russia

• The most fundamental point of contestation between the United States and Russia on the international order is the status of Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine — all former Soviet republics. Russia views these countries as part of its exclusive sphere of influence, while the United States views these as free, sovereign countries that have the right to join Western institutions.
• U.S. policy toward democracy promotion, foreign intervention, and the free flow of information directly conflict with Russian views and could lead to contestation or conflict.