As with Germany in the 1950’s, the nature of Russia’s links with its immediate neighbors is turning out to be the defining factor in shaping the country’s international image. Many observers regard these relations as a signal not just to the region, but to the rest of the world, of the sort of power that Russia wishes to be.
正如20世纪50年代的德国一样，俄国与其临近国家关系的性质正在成为塑造该国国际形象的决定性因素。在许多观察家看来，这些关系不仅向区域各国、而且也向世界其他国家发出信号，表明俄罗斯希望成为什么样的力量。