>>17837315 (OP)If they were smart theyd build up the east with well made highly productive cities to be population centers.
The east would give them a center of power far away from Europe and allow them to deal with Europe like America does.
People meme that Russia cant be invaded from the West, it can be, easily, a country the size of Texas invaded it and nearly killed it.
A country the size of Montana invaded it and forced it down and to cede land.
But if Russia built up its vast Eastern Reaches it would be totally removed from Danger, like an America of Eurasia.