For many in the West, Russia's return to the world stage over the past few years has come as a surprise, and not an especially pleasant one. After the downfall of the Soviet Union, the country was written off as a regional power, a filling station masquerading as a state.

Five years later, however, Russia is still resilient, despite the Western sanctions imposed over its actions in Ukraine. It has effectively won, militarily, in Syria: Today, it is a power broker in that country; the victory has raised its prestige in the Middle East and provided material support for Moscow's claims to be a great power again.