Putin’s been sending Russia back down that road. Forgot about all the nationalizations he engaged in?
I do think it is fair to give a country time for transition from one extreme form of government to a more rational one. Nothing like that is instant. They have to see the rewards along the way. Punishing them every step of the way is more likely to make them mad than it is to encourage them to see the benefits. Every country wants to feel like they are making their own choices rather than being forced by everyone else.
Some of it is just human nature and common sense.
If Putin’s goal has always been to lead Russia back to communism he easily could have done it by now. That does not mean it will never be his goal if it looks like the best way of survival.