"good guy" China will likely step in and help them rebuild without overt occupation.
Only after 28 million or more have died at the hands of the evil west. But this is more complicated than most people think.
China has pushed Russia out of Central Asia, so they're using this as an opportunity to regain a seat at the table.
In the end I think the EU and Russia have no choice but to set their differences aside and work together.
Which has already started during the pandemic and with the SDP winning the elections in Germany that is probably where things are headed.
A lot of what the US wants(regime change in Iran, pulling Ukraine into NATO) is not in the best interest of either Russia or Europe.
A little known fact is that the EU has already officially put a freeze on further expansion and the German government has basically greenlit the opening of Nordstream 2.
All the Russians now have to do is wait for Germany to invite them to clear the air and lift the sanctions.
