Your assumption is that Russia is fundamentally different from the USSR. I argue that the names of the people at the top were different, but Stalin was very much in the mold of Peter the Great, and the goals and actions of Russia/USSR were very similar.
I don’t think we need to waltz into the middle of Ukraine, or Georgia, esp now. But, I think your philosophy of abandoning the little guys to the tender mercies of the likes of Russia, or the Chicoms, is short sighted.
If Georgia wants to be Russian, so be it. At least the dictator of Belarus seems to like his situation. If the theoretical Georgians don’t want to be Russian, let them make their case and recruit mutually beneficial allies to promote their cause.
At last a moderate intelligent response
Far to few of those here today.