Putin, in China yesterday, praised Xi for his "long term outlook" and lambasted the "West" for we change "leaders" every 4/8 years and how that doesnt allow us to look 10,15 or 20 years ahead.
I found that to be the most telling and confirms what may have written about for decades- Leaders like Putin/Xi are not thinking in terms of 3-5 years. Its 10,20 years. So a move today may not make sense in the micro, but if you widen the lens to macro, then you can start to see patterns develop for broader goals for their respective power.
What better way to distract than the stir up the hornets nest that is the ME.