While Putin’s policies could have been much worse – it is legitimate to give him credit where it is due – Russia should not be allowed to take the West for granted. Nothing would be gained by breaking with Russia and engaging in confrontation with it, but there is no reason not to respond to Realpolitik with Realpolitik.
普京的俄罗斯并非民主领袖们举行首脑会议的好地方，尤其是在最近一次首脑会议收效甚微后。首脑会议的日程安排也不能证明在俄罗斯举办有什么正当理由。普京本来可以采取比现在还糟糕得多的政策——给他一些应得的荣誉也合情合理——但是，不应该允许俄罗斯把西方不当回事。与俄罗斯破裂，并与之对抗不会有什么好处，但也没有任何理由不以强权政治来回应强权政治。