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They could have been a strong Europe's partner with all their natural resources. Instead Russia is behaving like a toddler with a gun. Europe tried really hard to welcome them to civilized society. Alas.
If EU did not mindlessly toady along Washington’s imperial goals, it would have a reliable low cost commodity and energy supplier and European economy would be competitive and not be where it is today.
EU needs an independent foreign policy that maximises its own strategic interests. But the problem is EU is not a homogenous country. So it is unlikely to happen.
USA has its own imperial goals but it's pure whataboutism and has nothing to do with reason why Russia is degrading back to 19th century today.